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Mechanistic Deep Dive
Visceral Pain Pathways
- Splanchnic nerves
- Convergence with somatic afferents â referred pain
- A-delta + C fibers
CTZ + Vomiting Center
- Area postrema (outside BBB)
- Inputs: vestibular, GI vagal, cortical
- Antagonists: 5-HT3, dopamine, NK1, muscarinic
Recent Trials & Updates
Prucalopride for Chronic Constipation
- 5-HT4 agonist
- Long-term studies
Plecanatide, Linaclotide for IBS-C
- Guanylate cyclase C agonists
Pyrazinamide-Containing Regimens
- Beyond TB (other inflammatory)
High-Yield Specialist Points
Mesenteric Ischemia
- Acute: arterial embolism > thrombosis > venous
- Chronic: postprandial pain (âintestinal anginaâ)
- CT angiography
- Surgery / endovascular
- Heparin acute
Acute Mesenteric Ischemia
- Pain out of proportion
- Elderly with AF (embolic)
- Lactate elevated
- CT angio
- Emergent surgery often
Endoscopy Practical
- Sedation considerations
- Anticoagulation management
- ASGE guidelines
Capsule Endoscopy Considerations
- Small bowel evaluation
- Contraindications: known stenosis, obstruction
- Retention risk
ICP-Vomiting Triad
- Severe headache + projectile vomiting + papilledema
- Imaging
Hepatocellular vs Cholestatic LFT Pattern
- AST/ALT > 5x with mild ALP: hepatocellular
- ALP > 3x ULN + GGT: cholestatic
- Bilirubin variable
Lactose Intolerance Testing
- Hydrogen breath test
- Lactose tolerance test
- Lactase genetic testing
SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth)
- Small bowel bacterial overgrowth
- Bloating, diarrhea, malabsorption
- Hydrogen + methane breath test
- Treatment: antibiotics (rifaximin)
Pancreatic Insufficiency Testing
- Fecal elastase < 200 ÎŒg/g
- Pancreatic enzyme replacement (PERT)
Celiac Workup
- Anti-tTG IgA (preferred screen)
- Total IgA (rule out deficiency)
- Anti-DGP IgG (if IgA deficient)
- EGD with duodenal biopsy
Helicobacter Testing
- Urea breath test (sensitive, non-invasive)
- Stool antigen (sensitive)
- Histology (gold standard with biopsy)
- Serology (less specific; doesnât distinguish current)
- CLO test on biopsy
IBD Markers
- Fecal calprotectin (sensitive for inflammation)
- ANCA + ASCA (some)
- CRP, ESR
- Colonoscopy + biopsy gold standard
Constipation Subtypes
- Normal transit
- Slow transit (colonic inertia)
- Outlet dysfunction (anorectal manometry)
Encopresis vs Constipation
- Pediatric mostly
- Stool impaction + overflow incontinence
COVID-19 + GI
- Diarrhea, anorexia, nausea
- Anosmia/ageusia
- LFT abnormalities
- GI inflammation
Pearls
- Visceral pain: poorly localized, midline
- Parietal pain: sharp, localized, peritonitis
- Referred pain: shared embryology
- Dysphagia workup: oropharyngeal vs esophageal; modified barium or EGD
- Functional GI: Rome IV criteria
- Alarm features in dyspepsia: ⥠60 yo, weight loss, bleeding, dysphagia â EGD
- Stool calprotectin distinguishes IBD vs IBS
- Acute mesenteric ischemia: pain out of proportion + AF + lactate â
- Jaundice workup: LFT + US first