Alterations Of Digestive Function Flashcards
Causes of constipation include all of the following:
dehydration.
spinal cord injuries.
taking opioid pain medications for chronic back pain.
Causes of diarrhea include all of the following:
gastrointestinal infections (e.g., E. Coli).
enteral tube feeding in a person with swallowing difficulties.
surgical removal of half of the large intestine due to colon cancer
Case: You are providing nursing care for a 74-year-old woman with a C. Difficile infection. She has been experiencing large volume diarrhea for several days.
Q. As this patent’s nurse, you would be monitoring closely for signs and symptoms of:
Dehydration
Thirst
Low blood pressure with increased heart rate (tachycardia)
Dry mucous membranes
Poor skin turgor
Weight loss
Decreased urine output & concentrated urine
Which conditions are BOTH potential causes of gastroesophageal reflux (GERD)?
Hiatal hernia and pregnancy.
What is the most common cause of peptic ulcer disease worldwide?
Bacterial infection
What is the underlying cause of Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis?
Autoimmune disease
A patient with severe liver dysfunction from chronic hepatitis has increasing confusion and a reduced level of consciousness. The nurse suspects that these symptoms are caused by hepatic encephalopathy, which is caused by an increase in plasma levels of:
ammonia
The most common cause of acute pancreatitis is:
gall stone obstruction of the pancreatic duct.
In acute pancreatitis caused by a gallstone obstructing the pancreatic duct, what is the primary mechanism of
injury to the pancreatic tissue?
Autodigestion by pancreatic proteases
Individuals with chronic pancreatitis associated with cystic fibrosis are often malnourished due to
decreased secretion of pancreatic enzymes.
Which patient is at high risk for developing constipation?
A 36 year old man who is a quadriplegic (i.e., paralyzed from the neck down).
Which statement would be correct advice for a person with osmotic diarrhea?
Try eliminating dairy from your diet.
Steatorrhea is defined as ________ in the stools and can be caused by pancreatic enzyme insufficiency.
Fat
All of the following are risk factors for gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD):
coffee and alcohol.
pregnancy.
hiatal hernia.
Which of the following is the most significant risk factor in the development of peptic ulcer disease?
Bacterial infection
Why can non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen lead to gastric and duodenal ulcers?
NSAIDs block the production of gastric and duodenal mucus.
Which characteristics are associated with the pathophysiology of ulcerative colitis?
Causes bloody diarrhea
Is an autoimmune disease
Causes erosions mainly in the tunica mucosa layer of digestive tract wall
Which characteristics are associated with the pathophysiology of Crohn disease?
Affects the entire wall of the digestive tract.
Causes non-continuous erosions throughout the small and large intestines.
Is an autoimmune disease
What cellular and tissue alterations are seen in alcoholic cirrhosis?
Scarring and fibrosis
Howard Tate is 55 years old and has diagnosis of chronic liver failure due to cirrhosis. Mr. Tate’s confusion is caused by hepatic encephalopathy which often manifests in later stages of liver failure. The pathophysiology of hepatic encephalopathy is related to:
inability of the liver to convert ammonia to urea.
A 56 year old patient presents with severe epigastric pain and nausea. Labs reveal elevated amylase and lipase, which leads the healthcare team to the conclusion that the patient has acute pancreatitis. This is the first episode that the patient has experienced. The likely cause of acute pancreatitis is:
obstruction of the pancreatic duct by a gallstone.
The pathophysiology of the majority of cases of acute pancreatitis involves:
autodigestion of the pancreas by activated proteases.
Why do individuals with chronic pancreatitis often suffer from malnutrition and weight loss?
Decreased secretion of pancreatic enzymes
