1.1 pathophisology + bowel habit assesment

liver and gallbladder disorders

1. hepatitis

2. liver cancer

3. cirrhosis

4. non alcoholic related fatty liver disease

5. cholelithiasis (gallstones)

6. cholecystitis

bowel habit assesment

crucial part of evaluating the health of the lower GI tract

involves examining the frequency consistency colour and other characteristics of stool 

as well as associated symptoms like pain bleeding and urgency

this assesment helps diagnose a range of condttions

from IBS to diverticular disease

many people are embarrassed by stool

so its important to build rapprot

normal range

the normal frequency can vary widely among individuals, from 3 times a day to 3 times a week

significant changes in frequency

increased/ decreased can be indicative of underlying issues

•Types 1-2 indicate constipation,

•Types 3-4 are ideal stools as they are easier to pass

•Types 5-7 may indicate diarrhoea and urgency.

red flag symptoms

-Jaundice

-History of alcohol abuse

-Unintentional weight loss

-Right upper quadrant pain

-Confusion or altered mental state

-Easy bruising/bleeding

-Dark urine and pale stool

Diagnostic Plan: Suspected Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)

A 55-year-old male with a history of alcohol abuse presents with unintentional weight loss, jaundice, and right upper quadrant pain.

1.What questions would you ask regarding medical history?

• Document alcohol abuse, are they still drinking, assume everyone is lying

• Liver disease/ family history of cancer

• Take medication

2.What physical examination would you conduct?

• Physical examination, check for

  • jaundice,

  • weight loss- muscular,,

  • fluid in the abdomen, acytes

3.Which laboratory tests would be conducted?

• Blood test-liver function test AST/ALT/ALP

• Alpha fetal protein,

  • tumour marker for liver

• Blood test,

  • loss of plateles cells

4.Imaging Techniques?

• CT/MRI-

  • to define if you have cancer of begninge growths like cysts on the liver- life style changes/ surgery

• Ultrasound

• Biopsy

• Upstaged CT of chest + pelvis + abdomen, to check for metastasising -> can cause bone cancer, saecomas