Gastroenterology APEA 3P Exam Study Guide Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering high-yield assessment signs, pathophysiology, and pharmacological management from pages 1 through 3 of the Gastroenterology APEA 3P Exam Study Guide.

Appendicitis Assessment Signs

Clinical assessment signs associated with appendicitis, including McBurney point tenderness, Rovsing sign, psoas sign, and obturator sign.

Murphy sign

A clinical assessment sign indicative of cholecystitis.

Cullen sign

Periumbilical bruising associated with hemorrhagic pancreatitis.

Grey Turner sign

Flank bruising associated with hemorrhagic pancreatitis.

HBsAg

Hepatitis B surface antigen; indicates an active infection now. Presence beyond 6 months indicates chronic infection.

Anti-HBs

Hepatitis B surface antibody; indicates immunity. Present alone after vaccination, or together with anti-HBc after recovery from infection.

IgM anti-HBc

Serological marker indicating an acute Hepatitis B infection.

HBeAg

Hepatitis B e-antigen; indicates that the patient is highly infectious.

Barrett esophagus

Columnar metaplasia caused by chronic gastroesophageal reflux; serves as a precursor of adenocarcinoma.

Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs)

Medications that irreversibly block the $H^+/K^+$ ATPase; taken 30 to 60 minutes before a meal. Long-term risks include low B12, low magnesium, fractures, and C. difficile infection.

Visceral pain

Abdominal pain that is dull and poorly localized.

Parietal pain

Abdominal pain that is sharp and localized.

Referred pain

Pain felt at a distance from its origin, such as gallbladder pain felt in the right shoulder.

Pancreatitis

Inflammation caused by premature activation of pancreatic enzymes leading to autodigestion; main causes are gallstones and alcohol, as well as high triglycerides.

Cirrhosis

Pathology where chronic injury leads to fibrosis and nodules, portal hypertension, and failed synthesis (low albumin, high INR, high ammonia).

Crohn's disease

Transmural inflammation occurring anywhere from mouth to anus (most often terminal ileum), presenting with skip lesions, granulomas, fistulas, strictures, RLQ pain, and non-bloody diarrhea.

Ulcerative colitis

Mucosal inflammation that is continuous starting from the rectum, presenting with bloody diarrhea.

Small bowel obstruction

Mechanical blockage (most often caused by adhesions) leading to proximal bowel distension, third-spacing, colicky pain, bilious vomiting, and high-pitched tinkling bowel sounds early (absent late).

Giardiasis

Infection caused by Giardia protozoan from contaminated water (camping, daycare) that coats the small intestine, resulting in malabsorption, foul, greasy, floating stools, bloating, and gas.

Enterobiasis (pinworm)

Fecal-oral spread of Enterobius vermicularis causing night-time anal itching in school-age children; diagnosed with a tape test first thing in the morning.

Pyloric stenosis

Hypertrophied pyloric muscle blocking gastric outflow at 3 to 6 weeks of age, presenting with projectile non-bilious vomiting, an olive-shaped mass in the epigastrium, and hypochloremic, hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis.

Ondansetron

A 5-HT3 blocker used for gastroenteritis that carries a risk of QT prolongation.