GI Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the GI exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
📋 GI Exam Format at a Glance
📚 GI Topics to Study (21)
✍️ Sample GI Questions & Answers
1. What is the purpose of a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) in Gastrointestinal operations?
Safety Data Sheets provide detailed information about chemical hazards, safe handling procedures, and emergency measures.
2. What is the primary concern when using NSAIDs in patients with a history of peptic ulcer disease?
NSAIDs inhibit COX enzymes, reducing prostaglandin production that normally protects the gastric mucosa, increasing the risk of ulcers and GI bleeding.
3. What is the correct disinfection standard for flexible endoscopes used between patients?
Flexible endoscopes require high-level disinfection using approved chemical disinfectants such as glutaraldehyde or ortho-phthalaldehyde (OPA), following SGNA and manufacturer reprocessing guidelines to prevent infection transmission.
4. What is the role of lactulose in managing hepatic encephalopathy?
Lactulose is metabolized by colonic bacteria to acidify the colon, converting ammonia (NH3) to ammonium (NH4+), which is poorly absorbed and excreted in stool.
5. Which nutritional deficiency is a common GI-related concern in breastfed infants after 6 months without complementary foods?
Breast milk contains low levels of iron, and fetal iron stores are depleted by 6 months; without iron-rich complementary foods, breastfed infants are at high risk for iron-deficiency anemia.
6. Which diagnostic test is commonly used to detect abnormalities in the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine?
An upper endoscopy, also known as esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), is a diagnostic procedure that involves inserting a thin, flexible tube with a camera down the esophagus, through the stomach, and into the beginning of the small intestine. This allows direct visualization of the upper GI tract to detect abnormalities like ulcers, inflammation, polyps, or tumors.