LSS Alimentary System
Alexandra Burke-Smith
The Burden of Alimentary Disease Professor Mark Thursz (m.thursz@imperial.ac.uk)
Organs of the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract) Mouth + oesophagus Stomach Small intestine (duodenum, jejunum + ileum) Liver Biliary system Pancreas Large intestine (colon, rectum + anus) o Colon consists of caecum, appendix, ascending colon, hepatic flexure, transverse colon, splenic flexure, descending colon, sigmoid colon Components of burden of disease (details on pp) Patient burden Epidemiological statistics o Incidence – more important for acute diseases o Prevalence – more important for chronic diseases Health economic o Morbidity o Mortality o QUALYs/DALYs Societal burden o Health Cost – taxpayer vs individual Symptoms of GI disease (examples on pp) Symptoms are what the patient may complain of. They may be divided into general and regional symptoms.
General (many GI diseases are difficult to diagnose specifically do to the frequency of general symptoms) o Anorexia o Weight loss o Anaemia Upper GI tract o Haematemesis – vomiting blood o Melaena – blood in stool o Nausea o Vomiting o Dysphagia – inability to swallow food o Odynophagia – pain on swallowing o Heartburn – burning sensation in epigastric region that moves upwards o Acid regurgitation o Belching o Chest pain o Epigastric pain – pain in the epigastric region (upper central region above TPP and between midclavicular lines Liver + Biliary system (majority of liver disease does not present with symptoms until very advanced) o Right upper quadrant pain o Biliary colic – term used to describe when biliary tree is obstructed by a gallstone abdo pain 1