2.4 Gastrointestinal Flashcards
Diarrhea
Diarrhea Acute or Chronic Watery stools daily Can lead to dehydration Can lead to hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia and metabolic acidosis. Electrolyte loss Vascular collapse
Constipation
Constipation
Fewer than three bowel movements (BMs) per week. Hard stools, incomplete evacuation, or manual evacuation
Common in older adults
More common in women
Therapeutic Diets
Diarrhea
Diarrhea
Fluid replacement/glucose/balanced electrolyte solution.
Hold solid food 24 hours of acute diarrhea to rest the bowel.
BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast)
Avoid Milk, raw fruits, vegetables, fried foods, bran, whole-grain cereals, condiments, spices, coffee, and alcohol
Therapeutic Diets
Constipation
Constipation
Foods that have high fiber
Raw fruits, vegetables and cereal bran. (apples)
Drink at least 6-8 glasses of fluid per day.
Diet history and fluid intake
Exercise
Constipation and the Older Adult
Slowed peristalsis, lowered activity levels, Reduced food and fluid intake, Decreased sensory perception Chronic Disease Mobility problems, Medications Constipation is not normal
Fecal Impaction
Significant constipation/long-term dependence on laxatives or enemas
Rock-hard or putty-like mass of feces in the rectum.
Abdominal fullness and cramping
Sensation of fullness in the rectal area
Constipation/Fecal Impaction Treatment
History and Physical Digital examination Education Diet modification Routine exercise Diagnostic examination
Clostridium difficile (CDI) gastroenteritis what is it?
Bacterial enterotoxins Loss of normal flora/Overgrowth of pathogens Severe infection of the colon Antibiotic-associated infection Affects food digestion Causes diarrhea
Clostridium difficile (CDI) gastroenteritis
Incubation
Pathogenesis
Manifestations
Incubation
1–2 weeks
Wash hands with soap and water
Pathogenesis
Antibiotic therapy interferes with normal protective bacteria in the colon. Switching antibiotics to one that is not resistant to C-Diff
Manifestations
Diarrhea, abdominal cramps, malaise, fever, anorexia
Clostridium difficile (CDI) gastroenteritis Management
Management
Cessation of the causative antibiotic; antibiotic therapy with metronidazole (specific forC. difficile)—possibly vancomycin for resistant strains
Assessment Of Pt. with Clostridium difficile
Health history
Health history:Duration and extent of diarrhea; associated manifestations; dietary intake; recent travel out of the country or to wilderness areas; previous history of diarrhea; chronic diseases; prescription and nonprescription medications
Assessment Of Pt. with Clostridium difficile
Physical assessment
Physical assessment:Vital signs (including orthostatic blood pressure); peripheral pulses; skin temperature, moisture, turgor; color and moisture of mucous membranes; abdominal contour and girth; bowel sounds; stool for obvious or occult blood, pus, mucus, orsteatorrhea(bulky, foul-smelling stool containing fat/grease).
Treatment of pt. with Clostridium difficile
Limit food intake if the diarrhea is acute, rest bowels
Promote balanced fluid and electrolyte status
Administer antidiarrheal medications as prescribed
Fecal microbiota transplant
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
what is it
Motility disorder of the lower GI tract. Affects 10-15% of the adult population Young people most affected Higher in women than men Depression and anxiety linked to IBS
Signs and Symptoms (IBS)
IBS s/s Abdominal bloating, gas Nausea, vomiting, anorexia, fatigue Headache, depression, or anxiety Colicky, spasms, or dull and continuous pain Change in frequency Hard or lumpy, loose or watery Straining, urgency, or a sensation of incomplete evacuation Tender near the sigmoid colon
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Crohns Disease
Crohns Disease
Etiology Unknown
Chronic inflammatorydisorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract.
Can affect any portion of the GI tract from the mouth to the anus, but usually affects the terminal ileum and ascending colon.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative Colitis
Etiology Unknown
Chronicinflammatorydisorder that affects the mucosa and submucosa of the colon andrectum.
Onset is usually insidious,
Attacks that last 1 to 3 months occurring at intervals of months to years.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Crohns Disease
Crohns Disease
Age at onset 15–30/60–80 years
Disease: Slowly progressive, relapsing
Diarrhea: Less severe than colitis, no blood or mucus in stool
Pain: Cramping right lower quadrant
Nutrition: anemia, weight loss, multiple vitamin and mineral deficits
Bowel Involved: terminal ileum and ascending colon
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative Colitis
Age at onset 15–30/60–80 years
Disease: Chronic and intermittent
Diarrhea: 5–30 stools per day with blood and mucus
Pain: Cramping in left lower quadrant; relieved by defecation
Nutrition: anemia, hypoalbuminemia, and weight loss
Bowel Involved:rectum and sigmoid colon
Diverticular Disease
what is it
Diverticulaare small (0.5- to 1.0-cm) outpouchings of the colon that occur in rows Increases with age Diet plays a factor Lifestyle choices Men and women are equally affected
Diverticular disease forms when high pressure causes mucosa to herniate through the muscle wall, forming a diverticulum. A diverticula begins to form when there is increased pressure.
A diverticulum forms from high pressure goes through 3 layers
Diverticular Disease
Diverticulosis
Diverticulosis
Presence of diverticula Asymptomatic but Pain (usually left-sided), Constipation, and diarrhea occur, Complication is hemorrhage/diverticulitis
However as the disease progress the patient will experience narrow stools, abdominal cramping, increased constipation, bleeding in stools, weakness, and fatigue
Diverticular Disease
Diverticulitis
Diverticulitis
Inflammation in and around the diverticular saccausing pain.
Usually affects 1 diverticulum
Sigmoid colon
Undigested food/bacteria forms hard masses.
Low grade temp/ abdomen tenderness
undigested food and bacteria to cause a decrease in blood flow potentially causing a perforation