What to Know about Gastroenterology from ACP’s #IM2017 Conference ABIM Board Review Course

As you’ve probably noticed from our Twitter feed this week, Knowmedge chief editor Dr Sunir Kumar (@DrSunir) has been delivering real-time updates from the American College of Physicians’ Internal Medicine conference. Using #IM2017, you can view those and other relevant tweets from this year’s gathering.

Below is a compilation of 19 Gastroenterology pearls to help you with your board prep for ABIM, ABFM, and USMLE boards. In addition, these are useful in your daily clinical practice.

@knowmedge 30% of pts with celiac disease will just present with iron deficiency anemia. #IM2017
— Sunir Kumar (@SunirMD) March 29, 2017

@knowmedge The most common cause of gastroparesis is idiopathic. #IM2017
— Sunir Kumar (@SunirMD) March 29, 2017

@knowmedge Metoclopropramide can be used in management of gastroparesis but can cause tardive dyskinesia. #IM2017
— Sunir Kumar (@SunirMD) March 29, 2017

@knowmedge PO Erythromycin can also be used to manage gastroparesis but pt can develop tachyphylaxis. #IM2017
— Sunir Kumar (@SunirMD) March 29, 2017

@knowmedge Preferred route of nutrition for patients with severe acute pancreatitis is Enteral feedings. #IM2017
— Sunir Kumar (@SunirMD) March 29, 2017

@knowmedge Most common finding for cholecystitis on u/s is pericholecystic fluid and thickened gallbladder wall. #IM2017
— Sunir Kumar (@SunirMD) March 29, 2017

@knowmedge Biliary Colic–>Epigastric, RUQ pain & shoulder pain X 4-6 hours. NSAID decrease risk to acute cholecystitis. #IM2017
— Sunir Kumar (@SunirMD) March 29, 2017

@knowmedge Hepatitis A diagnosis–>check anti HAV IgM antibody. It does not cause chronic hepatitis. Very high yield! #IM2017
— Sunir Kumar (@SunirMD) March 29, 2017

@knowmedge If pt just has hepatitis C infection w/o HIV or alcohol abuse, it can take up to 20 years to progress to liver cirrhosis.#IM2017
— Sunir Kumar (@SunirMD) March 29, 2017

@knowmedge Most common antibodies that are + for autoimmune hepatitis: anti-smooth muscle, anti-LKM, anti-SLA. #IM2017
— Sunir Kumar (@SunirMD) March 29, 2017

@knowmedge Rx for autoimmune hepatitis is corticosteroids and azathioprine. High yield! #IM2017
— Sunir Kumar (@SunirMD) March 29, 2017

@knowmedge Ursodeoxycholic acid reduces the need for liver transplant in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis. #IM2017
— Sunir Kumar (@SunirMD) March 29, 2017

@knowmedge For PBC, get annual US (gallbladder ca), annual MRCP and CA 19-9 (cholangiocarcinoma), Colonoscopy q 1-2 years. #IM2017
— Sunir Kumar (@SunirMD) March 29, 2017

@knowmedge Initial primary prophylaxis for esophageal varices: Propranolol or Nadolol. #IM2017
— Sunir Kumar (@SunirMD) March 29, 2017

@knowmedge Pts have severe IBS symptoms and psychological symptoms–>drug of choice is Paroxetine. #IM2017
— Sunir Kumar (@SunirMD) March 29, 2017

@knowmedge Anal fistulas are seen in Crohn's Disease, not in Ulcerative Colitis. #IM2017
— Sunir Kumar (@SunirMD) March 29, 2017

@knowmedge 10% of patients with E. coli O157:H7 colitis will develop HUS or TTP. #IM2017
— Sunir Kumar (@SunirMD) March 29, 2017

@knowmedge Remember that for C. diff infection, PO or IV Metronidazole can be used; however, only PO Vancomycin can be used. #IM2017
— Sunir Kumar (@SunirMD) March 29, 2017

@knowmedge Fidaxomycin is an alternative antibiotic to PO Vancomycin for C. diff infection. For toxic megacolon–>surgery. #IM2017
— Sunir Kumar (@SunirMD) March 29, 2017

So, if you weren’t able to make it to San Diego for the ACP #IM2017 conference, these above tweets will at least give you some high-yield pearls for answering gastroenterology questions on your USMLE, ABIM, ABFM and PANCE boards.