Gastroenterology Simplified: Mnemonics for Digestive Health Mastery
B
Bilirubin: common causes for increased levels: “HOT Liver”:
- Hemolysis
- Obstruction
- Tumor
- Liver disease
- Author: Sung H. Kim
C
Celiac sprue gluten sensitive enteropathy: gluten-containing grains: BROW:
- Barley
- Rye
- Oats
- Wheat
Flattened intestinal villi of celiac sprue are smooth, like an eyebrow.
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- Author: Jack A. Pasquale, MD St. George’s University, School of Medicine
Charcot’s triad (gallstones) : “Charge a FEE“:
- Charcot’s triad is:
- Fever
- Epigastric & RUQ pain
- Emesis & nausea
- Reference: http://medicalmnemonics.com/
Cholangitis features: CHOLANGITITS:
- Charcot’s triad/ Conjugated bilirubin increase
- Hepatic abscesses/ Hepatic (intra/extra) bile ducts/ HLA B8, DR3
- Obstruction
- Leukocytosis
- Alkaline phosphatase increase
- Neoplasms
- Gallstones
- Inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis)
- Transaminase increase
- Infection
- Sclerosing
- Author: Rinku S. Uberoi UNIBE
Cirrhosis: causes of hepatic cirrhosis: HEPATIC:
- Hemochromatosis (primary)
- Enzyme deficiency (alpha-1-anti-trypsin)
- Post hepatic (infection + drug induced)
- Alcoholic
- Tyrosinosis
- Indian childhood (galactosemia)
- Cardiac/ Cholestatic (biliary)/ Cancer/ Copper (Wilson’s)
- Author: Chetan Wasekar
Crohn’s disease: morphology, symptoms: CHRISTMAS:
- Cobblestones
- High temperature
- Reduced lumen
- Intestinal fistulae
- Skip lesions
- Transmural (all layers, may ulcerate)
- Malabsorption
- Abdominal pain
- Submucosal fibrosis
- Author: Samuel Atom Baek-Kim
D
Digestive disorders: pH level
- With vomiting both the pH and food come up.
- With diarrhea both the pH and food go down.
- Author: Joel Topf Indiana University
Diabetic ketoacidosis: precipitating factors: 5 I’s:
- Infection
- Ischaemia (cardiac, mesenteric)
- Infarction
- Ignorance (poor control)
- Intoxication (alcohol)
- Author: James Thomas
G
GIT symptoms: BAD ANAL S#!T:
- Bleeding
- Abdominal pain
- Dysphagia
- Abdominal bloating
- Nausea & vomiting
- Anorexia/ Appetite changes
- Lethargy
- S#!ts (diarrhea)
- Heartburn
- Increased bilirubin (jaundice)
- Temperature (fever)
- Author: The Cashman University of Queensland, Australia
H
Pylori treatment regimen (rough guidelines): “Please Make Tummy Better”:
- Proton pump inhibitor
- Metronidazole
- Tetracycline
- Bismuth
Alternatively: TOMB:
- Tetracycline
- Omeprazole
- Metronidazole
- Bismuth
- Author: Steven Holsenback and Leena Alexander COMP and Texas, USA
Hepatic encephalopathy: precipitating factors: HEPATICS:
- Hemorrhage in GIT/ Hyperkalemia
- Excess protein in diet
- Paracentesis
- Acidosis/ Anemia
- Trauma
- Infection
- Colon surgery
- Sedatives
- Author: Chetan Wasekar
Haemachromatosis complications: “HaemoChromatosis Can Cause Deposits Anywhere”:
- Hypogonadism
- Cancer (hepatocellular)
- Cirrhosis
- Cardiomyopathy
- Diabetes mellitus
- Arthropathy
- Author: Logan Mitchell Dunedin Medical School, New Zealand
I
IBD: extraintestinal manifestations: A PIE SAC:
- Aphthous ulcers
- Pyoderma gangrenosum
- Iritis
- Erythema nodosum
- Sclerosing cholangitis
- Arthritis
- Clubbing of fingertips
- Reference: http://medicalmnemonics.com/
IBD: surgery indications: “I CHOP“:
- Infection
- Carcinoma
- Haemorrhage
- Obstruction
- Perforation
“Chop” convenient since surgery chops them open.
-
- Reference: http://medicalmnemonics.com/
L
Liver failure (chronic): signs found on the arms: CLAPS:
- Clubbing
- Leukonychia
- Asterixis
- Palmar erythema
- Scratch marks
- Author: Jason
P
Pancreatitis (acute): causes : GET SMASHED:
- Gallstones
- Ethanol
- Trauma
- Steroids
- Mumps
- Autoimmune (PAN)
- Scorpion stings
- Hyperlipidemia/ Hypercalcemia
- ERCP
- Drugs (including azathioprine and diuretics)
Note: ‘Get Smashed’ is slang in some countries for drinking, and ethanol is an
important pancreatitis cause.
-
- Author: Chris Perry Edinburgh Medical School
Pancreatitis: criteria: PANCREAS:
- PaO2 below 8
- Age >55
- Neutrophils: WCC >15
- Calcium below 2
- Renal: Urea >16
- Enzymes: LDH >600; AST >200
- Albumin below 32
- Sugar: Glucose >10 (unless diabetic patient)
- Author: Daniel Henning 4th yr Medical Student, Belfast, UK
Pancreatitis: Ranson criteria for pancreatitis at admission: LEGAL:
- Leukocytes > 16.000
- Enzyme AST > 250
- Glucose > 200
- Age > 55
- LDH > 350
- Author: Pedro Tulio
U
Ulcerative colitis: complications: “PAST Colitis”:
- Pyoderma gangrenosum
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Sclerosing pericholangitis
- Toxic megacolon
- Colon carcinoma
- Author: Ritu Garg
V
Vomiting: extra GI differential: VOMITING:
- Vestibular disturbance/ Vagal (reflex pain)
- Opiates
- Migrane/ Metabolic (DKA, gastroparesis, hypercalcemia)
- Infections
- Toxicity (cytotoxic, digitalis toxicity)
- Increased ICP, Ingested alcohol
- Neurogenic, psychogenic
- Gestation
- Author: Anil Pandit, Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Pokhara, Nepal
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