Abdominal Emergencies Flashcards
Esophagus
Posterior portion of pharynx
Like a deflated tube, allowing air to pass into trachea easily
Unable to dissolve food but helps transport
Gastric Distention
Occurs when too much positive pressure ventilation occurs and causes the esophagus to dialate and let air in impeding lung expansion
Peristalsis
Transports food from mouth to stomach using rhythmic contractions
Esophageal Veins
Veins intertwined around esophagus
Portal Vein
Conversion of esophageal veins.
Transports venous blood from GI Tract directly to the liver for nutrients that have been absorbed.
No valves exist.
Cardiac Sphincter
Doorway connecting esophagus and the stomach.
Called so because people that have regurgitation of acid from the stomach to the esophagus often feel as if they are having a heart attack
Stomach
Secretes HCl acid to break down food.
Contracts and mixes it’s food until smooth consistency achieved.
Water and fat soluble substances dissolved
Pyloric Sphincter
Doorway between the inferior portion of stomach to the entry of the small intestine
Chyme
Material that exits the pyloric sphincter
Duodenum
First part of small intestine.
Connects gallbladder, liver and pancreas to the digestive system.
Liver
Produces bile and stored in gall bladder.
Also can promote carbohydrate conversion.
Liver can convert glycogen into glucose.
Fat and protein metabolism occurs when blood flows through the liver.
Detoxifies drugs, break downs red and white blood cells, stores vitamins and minerals.
Bile
Enzyme that helps break down fats
Small Intestine
Where 90% of all absorption occurs.
20’ long.
Water soluble and fat-soluble vitamins absorbed by diffusion into blood stream.
Three sections of Small Intestine
Duodenum ( last part of upper GI )
Jejunum ( first part of lower GI )
Ilieum
Large Intestine
Or colon.
5’ long.
All nutrients have already been dissolved by small intestine and waste is now called feces.
Cecum, Ascending Colon, Transverse Colon, Descending Colon, Sigmoidal Colon, Rectum
MAIN role of Large Intestine is to complete the resorption of water to solidify stool. If hindered, this process causes diarrhea.
Time of Digestion
From mouth to anus takes 8 to 72 hours.
Ascites
Fluid buildup in the abdomen
Striae
Stretch marks
Protuberant
Protruding abdomen
Scaphoid
Concave abdomen
Normal bowel sounds
Occur 5-30 times a minute
Borborygmi
Prolonged stomach growling indicating strong contractions of the intestines
Visceral Pain
Difficult to localize.
Describe as burning, cramping, or aching. Felt superficially.
Organ contracts too forcefully or is distended
Parietal Pain
Steady, achy pain. Easier to localize.
Pain increases with movement.
Caused by inflammation (bleeding or infection)
Somatic Pain
Localized pain, felt deeply.
Injury to tissue
Referred Pain
Pain originating one place and occurring elsewhere.
Occurs after somatic, visceral and parietal pain.
Orthostatic Vital
Vitals standing and sitting to gauge hypovolemia
Pain management for abdominal Pain
Morphine 5-10mg Toradol 15-60mg Fentanyl 50-100mcg Demerol 50-150mg Nubian 10mg
Medications for nausea
Zofran 4mg
Benadryl 10-50mg
Visatril 25-100mg IM
Phenegran 12.5-25mg
Hyponatremia
Low sodium
Swelling of cells
Symptoms- weakness, cramps, convulsions
Hypernatremia
High sodium
Shrinking of cells
Main cause oh hypovolemia
Vomiting and diarrhea
Second cause- hemmorage
Hyperkalemia
High potassium
Shortened QT interval and tented t waves
Symptoms- bradycardia, cramps, weakness
Hypokalemia
Low patassium
Prolonged QT interval and flattened QT intervals
Symptoms- weakness, paralysis, heart failure
Upper GI bleeding by Cause
Esophagus- Varices, Cancer, Tear, Dilated Veins, Cirrhosis, GERD
Stomach- Ulcers, Cancer, Gastritis
Small intestine (duodenum)- ulcer
Lower GI bleeding by Cause
Small Intestine- irritable bowel disease, cancer
Large Intestine- infections, ulcerative colitis, colorectal polyps, diverticula disease
Rectum- hemorrhoids
Esophagogastric Varices
Caused by pressure increases in the blood vessels that surround esophagus and stomach. These vessels drain into portal system. If liver is damaged blood cannot effectively flow through it easily, causing blood to back up and create pressure.
Esophageal Varices Assessment
Initially signs of Liver Disease- fatigue, weight loss, jaundice
Rupture of Varices is sudden- pain in threat, dysphasia, vomiting of bright red blood
Esophageal Varices Management
Fluid resuscitation
In hospital, cauterize effected area
Mallory-Weiss Syndrome
Junction between esophagus and stomach tears, causing severe bleeding. Reason for tearing is during an act of vomiting, pressure in the stomach can increase so greatly that causes a failure of structure
Mallory-Weiss Syndrome Assessment
Linked to vomiting.
Woman, can be related to hyperemsis graviadarum.