Chapter 10 Fecal Analysis Flashcards
What is fecal analysis used to detect
GI bleeding, liver and biliary duct disorders, pancreatic disorders malabsorption syndromes, maldigestion, and infections
Fecal specimen contain what 8 things
Bacteria, cellulose, undigested foodstuffs, GI secretions, bile pigments, cells from the intestinal walls, electrolytes, water
How much feces is extracted in a 24-hour period?
100 to 200g
What is the primary site for the final breakdown and reabsorption of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats
Small intestine
What is the site of water, sodium, and chloride absorption
Large intestine
About how much ingested fluid, saliva, gastric, liver, pancreatic, and intestinal secretions enter the digestive tract each day
9000 mL
How much excess water causes diarrhea
> 3000 mL
What causes constipation?
Increased water absorption in large intestine with decreased bowel motility
> 200 g stool weight per day with increased liquid and more than 3 movements per day
Diarrhea
Chronic diarrhea duration
> 4 weeks
Acute diarrhea duration
<4 weeks
Mechanisms of diarrhea
Secretory, osmotic, altered motility
Lab tests for diarrhea
Fecal electrolytes, osmolality, and pH
Diarrhea pH <5.6 indicates
Sugar malabsorption
What is used to calculate fecal osmotic gap for diarrhea
Sodium, potassium, osmolality
Increased solute secretions by intestines cause increase secretion of water and electrolytes to large intestines causes
Secretory diarrhea
Secretory diarrhea bacterial, viral, and protozoan infections
E. coli, clostridium, Vibrio cholerae, salmonella, shigella, staphylococcus, campylobacter, cryptosporidium
Other causes of secretory diarrhea
Drugs, laxatives, inflammatory bowel diseases/colitis, endocrine disorders, malignancy, collagen vascular disease
Poor absorption that exerts osmotic pressure across the intestinal mucosa
Osmotic diarrhea
What causes osmotic diarrhea
Incomplete digestion of reabsorption of food increases water retention in large intestine
Impaired digestion of foods
Maldigestion
Impaired reabsorption
Malabsorption
What causes osmotic diarrhea (7)
Lactose intolerance, celiac sprue (malabsorption), amebiasis, giardiasis, antibiotics, laxatives, antacids
Hypermotility and constipation; food, chemicals, stress, and exercises are causes of
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)