Practitioner最新文献

Gallstones form when there is an imbalance in the composition of bile resulting in precipitation of one or more of its components. Between 37 and 86% of gallstones are cholesterol-rich stones, 2-27% are pigment stones and 4-16% are mixed. Cholesterol-rich gallstones are more common in Europe and North America. This has been attributed to obesity and diets containing a high proportion of refined carbohydrates and fat. Low-calorie diets and rapid weight loss are also associated with cholesterol-rich gallstones. Gallstone disease increases with age. Women have a higher prevalence of gallstones than men, which is attributed to exposure to oestrogen and progesterone. Of those with gallstones, around 1 to 4% will develop symptoms annually. Most patients (> 80%) will remain asymptomatic throughout their lifetime and the likelihood of developing symptoms diminishes with time. Liver function tests and an abdominal ultrasound should be offered to patients with symptoms suggestive of gallstone disease (e.g. abdominal pain, jaundice, fever). They should also be considered in patients with less typical but chronic abdominal or gastrointestinal symptoms. In patients with acute pancreatitis and evidence of ongoing bile duct obstruction and/or cholangitis, endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography and biliary sphincterotomy is recommended within 24-72 hours of the onset of symptoms. Patients with acute cholecystitis should be referred for laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

The classic symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are abdominal pain, bloating and some form of bowel dysfunction. The pain is typically colicky in nature and can occur at any site although most commonly it is on the left side. The abdomen feels flat in the morning and then gradually becomes more bloated as the day progresses reaching a peak by late afternoon or evening. It then subsides again over night. Traditionally IBS is divided into diarrhoea, constipation or alternating subtypes. IBS patients frequently complain of one or more non-colonic symptoms, these include constant lethargy, low backache, nausea, bladder symptoms suggestive of an irritable bladder, chest pain and dyspareunia in women. The traditional view that IBS is a largely psychological condition is no longer tenable. Rectal bleeding, a family history of malignancy and a short history in IBS should always be treated with suspicion. Both pain and bowel dysfunction are often made worse by eating. It is recommended that a coeliac screening test is undertaken to rule out this condition. Other routine tests should include inflammatory markers such as CRP or ESR. Calprotectin is a marker for leukocytes in the stools and detects gastrointestinal inflammation. A negative test almost certainly rules out inflammatory bowel disease, especially in conjunction with a normal CRP. Fermentable carbohydrates can have a detrimental effect on IBS and this has led to the introduction of the low FODMAP diet.

The incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) is rising reflecting an increasingly elderly at-risk population, with multiple comorbidities, coupled with improved detection of AKI following introduction of clinical chemistry laboratory algorithms. AKI is potentially reversible so improvements in its recognition and early interventions could have a major impact on patient outcomes. AKI occurs when there is a rapid decrease in GFR within hours to days. The loss of kidney function results in the retention of urea and creatinine and subsequent dysregulation of electrolytes and fluid balance. Individuals in the community with pre-existing CKD and/or patients treated with an ACE inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker are at increased risk of AKI if they develop an illness associated with hypovolaemia or hypotension. Potential clues in the history for AKI include reduced fluid intake and/or increased fluid losses, urinary tract symptoms and recent drug ingestion. Postural changes in pulse and BP are more sensitive indicators of hypovolaemia than supine observations. Once an unexplained raised serum creatinine is identified this should trigger a careful review of the patient's history including the common AKI risk factors, medication record, baseline renal function and clinical examination. The severity of the AKI should be considered by evaluating the extent of rise of serum creatinine from baseline. Reagent strip urinalysis should be performed, if possible, on any patient with suspected AKI. Positive protein and blood indicators of 2+ to 4+ on urinalysis suggest intrinsic glomerular disease and should trigger more urgent referral to hospital. The focus of AKI management is correcting the conditions causing or contributing to it.

Major (unipolar) depression is one of the most common mental health disorders in children and adolescents, with an estimated one year prevalence of 4-5% in mid-late adolescence. Depression is probably the single most important risk factor for teenage suicide, the second to third leading cause of death in this age group and a forerunner of adult depressive disorder. Half of those with lifelong recurrent depression started to develop their symptoms before the age of 15 years. Family history is a well established risk factor and children born to depressed parents face three to four times increased rates of depression. Both genetic and environmental factors contribute to this risk. Adolescent girls are more vulnerable to depression in a ratio of 2:1. However, prepubertal depression has an equal sex ratio and is thought to be more strongly related to family dysfunction. Low mood is the predominant feature and depressed children might also have various unexplained physical symptoms, eating disorders, school refusal or substance misuse. Two thirds of adolescents with depression are thought to have at least one comorbid psychiatric disorder, most commonly the range of anxiety disorders, disruptive behavioural disorders and substance misuse problems. NICE highlights the importance of active listening and conversational techniques in order to screen for mood disorders effectively. The key questions used for screening are from the PHQ-2.

NICE recommends that when adults present in primary care with depression, they should be asked about previous periods of overactivity or disinhibited behaviour. If this behaviour lasted for four or more days referral for a specialist mental health assessment should be considered. Although depressive episodes are not necessary for a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, they are common and dominate the lifetime pattern of the condition: 50% of the time is spent in a euthymic (well) state, 38% in a depressed and 12% in a manic state. If there have only been depressive symptoms, it is not possible to exclude bipolar disorder. A diagnosis of bipolar disorder is supported by diagnostic criteria and usually confirmed by a psychiatrist. If the GP suspects mania or severe depression, or if patients are a danger to themselves or others, an urgent referral should be made for a specialist mental health assessment. If a manic episode has been present during the history the diagnosis is bipolar I disorder, while a hypomanic episode is indicative of bipolar disorder. The patient's care plan should include current health status, social situation, social support, co-ordination arrangements with secondary care, details of early warning signs, and the patient's preferred course of action in the event of a clinical relapse. Physical health checks should focus on cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity and respiratory disease given the heightened risk for these illnesses in bipolar disorder.