GI Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield GI facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which complication of cirrhosis is characterized by bacterial infection of ascitic fluid without an obvious intra-abdominal source? → Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis
2. Which anatomical feature distinguishes the jejunum from the ileum on barium studies or during surgery? → Jejunum has thicker walls with more prominent plicae circulares
3. When performing a root cause analysis (RCA) after a GI endoscopy adverse event, what is the primary goal? → Identify systemic factors and process failures to prevent recurrence
4. What does risk mitigation mean in Gastrointestinal practice? → Taking steps to reduce the likelihood or impact of identified risks
5. A patient develops fever and abdominal pain 48 hours after a colonoscopy with polypectomy. The most likely infection concern is: → Post-polypectomy syndrome or post-procedural peritonitis
6. Which of the following is a key principle of workplace safety in Gastrointestinal? → Reporting all near-misses and incidents
7. What does informed consent require in Gastrointestinal practice? → Full disclosure of relevant information before obtaining agreement
8. In GI quality assurance, what does 'appropriate use' of colonoscopy refer to? → Ordering colonoscopy when the indication aligns with evidence-based clinical guidelines
9. What is the recommended first-line pharmacologic treatment to reduce rebleeding risk in variceal hemorrhage before endoscopy? → Octreotide (somatostatin analogue)
10. Which intervention is most appropriate for a patient with achalasia confirmed by esophageal manometry? → Pneumatic dilation or Heller myotomy (or POEM)
11. A patient with severe Clostridium difficile colitis fails metronidazole. What is the next step? → Fidaxomicin or oral vancomycin
12. Which sign on plain abdominal X-ray is most characteristic of small bowel obstruction? → Dilated loops of small bowel with air-fluid levels in a stepladder pattern
13. When performing hemostasis of a bleeding peptic ulcer, the hemostatic clip is most effective when applied: → Across the vessel perpendicular to its axis to compress it
14. What is the hallmark pathologic finding in celiac disease on small bowel biopsy? → Villous atrophy with crypt hyperplasia and increased intraepithelial lymphocytes
15. The hepatic flexure of the colon is located: → Where the ascending colon turns to become the transverse colon
16. Which dietary change can help reduce symptoms of acid reflux and GERD? → Eating smaller, frequent meals
17. In Gastrointestinal, what is the purpose of team-building activities? → To strengthen collaboration, trust, and communication
18. What is benchmarking in the context of Gastrointestinal quality management? → Comparing performance against best practices or competitors
19. A patient with sigmoid volvulus undergoes initial sigmoidoscopic detorsion successfully. What is the recommended next step to prevent recurrence? → Elective sigmoid resection
20. During flexible sigmoidoscopy, resistance is encountered at the rectosigmoid junction. The recommended technique is: → Torque the scope and use abdominal pressure while withdrawing slightly
21. A cirrhotic patient develops ascites for the first time. What is the initial management strategy? → Sodium restriction and spironolactone
22. The enterohepatic circulation primarily involves the recycling of which substance between the liver and small intestine? → Bile acids
23. Lactase deficiency leading to lactose intolerance causes GI symptoms primarily through which mechanism? → Osmotic diarrhea and gas from bacterial fermentation
24. Which fat-soluble vitamin requires bile salts for proper micellar solubilization and intestinal absorption? → Vitamin K
25. Which laxative class works by drawing water into the intestinal lumen via osmosis? → Osmotic laxatives
26. Which assessment finding requires the nurse to immediately report to the physician when caring for a patient with cirrhosis? → Asterixis (flapping tremor) of the hands
27. When communicating discharge instructions to a patient with newly diagnosed GERD, which technique best confirms patient understanding? → Teach-back method, asking the patient to repeat instructions in their own words
28. What is the recommended treatment for primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) to slow disease progression? → Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA)
29. Which probiotic strain has the strongest evidence for preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea, including C. difficile-associated disease? → Saccharomyces boulardii
30. A GI patient with limited English proficiency needs an endoscopy explained. The best approach is to: → Use a qualified medical interpreter to explain the procedure and obtain consent