Alterations Of Digestive Function

Question 1

Causes of constipation include all of the following:

Answer 1

dehydration.
spinal cord injuries.
taking opioid pain medications for chronic back pain.

Question 2

Causes of diarrhea include all of the following:

Answer 2

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

Question 3

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:

Answer 3

Dehydration

Thirst
Low blood pressure with increased heart rate (tachycardia)
Dry mucous membranes
Poor skin turgor
Weight loss
Decreased urine output & concentrated urine

Question 4

Which conditions are BOTH potential causes of gastroesophageal reflux (GERD)?

Answer 4

Hiatal hernia and pregnancy.

Question 5

What is the most common cause of peptic ulcer disease worldwide?

Answer 5

Bacterial infection

Question 6

What is the underlying cause of Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis?

Answer 6

Autoimmune disease

Question 7

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:

Answer 7

ammonia

Question 8

The most common cause of acute pancreatitis is:

Answer 8

gall stone obstruction of the pancreatic duct.

Question 9

In acute pancreatitis caused by a gallstone obstructing the pancreatic duct, what is the primary mechanism of
injury to the pancreatic tissue?

Answer 9

Autodigestion by pancreatic proteases

Question 10

Individuals with chronic pancreatitis associated with cystic fibrosis are often malnourished due to

Answer 10

decreased secretion of pancreatic enzymes.

Question 11

Which patient is at high risk for developing constipation?

Answer 11

A 36 year old man who is a quadriplegic (i.e., paralyzed from the neck down).

Question 12

Which statement would be correct advice for a person with osmotic diarrhea?

Answer 12

Try eliminating dairy from your diet.

Question 13

Steatorrhea is defined as ________ in the stools and can be caused by pancreatic enzyme insufficiency.

Answer 13

Fat

Question 14

All of the following are risk factors for gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD):

Answer 14

coffee and alcohol.
pregnancy.
hiatal hernia.

Question 15

Which of the following is the most significant risk factor in the development of peptic ulcer disease?

Answer 15

Bacterial infection

Question 16

Why can non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen lead to gastric and duodenal ulcers?

Answer 16

NSAIDs block the production of gastric and duodenal mucus.

Question 17

Which characteristics are associated with the pathophysiology of ulcerative colitis?

Answer 17

Causes bloody diarrhea
Is an autoimmune disease
Causes erosions mainly in the tunica mucosa layer of digestive tract wall

Question 18

Which characteristics are associated with the pathophysiology of Crohn disease?

Answer 18

Affects the entire wall of the digestive tract.
Causes non-continuous erosions throughout the small and large intestines.
Is an autoimmune disease

Question 19

What cellular and tissue alterations are seen in alcoholic cirrhosis?

Answer 19

Scarring and fibrosis

Question 20

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:

Answer 20

inability of the liver to convert ammonia to urea.

Question 21

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:

Answer 21

obstruction of the pancreatic duct by a gallstone.

Question 22

The pathophysiology of the majority of cases of acute pancreatitis involves:

Answer 22

autodigestion of the pancreas by activated proteases.

Question 23

Why do individuals with chronic pancreatitis often suffer from malnutrition and weight loss?

Answer 23

Decreased secretion of pancreatic enzymes