Cyndi - Week 2 - Exam 1 Flashcards
what are the s/sx of acute abdomen?
- Abdominal pain that’s worse with movement
- Involuntary guarding
- Abdominal rigidity
- Rebound tenderness
what is the veriform appendix?
‐ narrow blind tube below cecum, 2.5 cm long; wormlike
what is appendicitis?
inflammation of the appendix
- located at McBurney’s point
- formation of fecalith
- narrowed lumen
- trapped fluid becomes harbor for bacterial growth
what is a fecalith?
accumulated calcified feces, bacteria, mucus
what are the risk factors for appendicitis?
age, dietary habits, family fx, cystic fibrosis
what are the s/sx of appendicitis?
- Rebound RLQ, pain
- Guarding, knees drawn up
- Psoas, Rovsing, Obturator signs
- Anorexia, vomiting
- Fever
- Constipation, bloating, or diarrhea
what are psoas, rovsing, and obturator signs?
positive signs that it is appendicitis - not definitive, but then we do more intrusive tests
- psoas: pain with putting left leg back
- rovsing: push on left side, right side is painful
- obturator: put right leg over left → pain
what are positive signs of appendicitis used for children?
stand on one foot and hop → pain
what are the diagnostic tests for appendicitis?
- Pain pattern – may occur over 1‐3 days
- Abdominal assessment
- Labs
- Labs
- Abdominal X‐ray, CT, (most accurate) ultrasound
- Females of child bearing age should be ruled out for ectopic preg, etc.
what are the complications of appendicitis?
- Ileus (blockage d/t bowel unable to squeeze; stretched out)
- Perforation (stool in the sterile peritoneum cavity; LT)
- Shock (sepsis or hypovolemia)
what are the nursing priorities for appendicitis?
- NPO’
- Tx for pain
- ATBs
- IVFs
- Monitor for worsening
- Communicate with surgeon and team
T/F if appendicitis is suspected, you should hold pain meds for MD to assess
TRUE; it’s important to hold the meds so we are sure where the pain is and the characteristics of the pain.
what is the pre-op treatment for appendicitis?
- No laxatives or enemas: (may cause rupture)
- Antibiotics for gram negative bacteria
- Pain medicine may be withheld until appendicitis diagnosed
- IVF
- NPO (strict)
- Plan for surgery
- Monitor for peritonitis s/s
what is the post-op tx for appendicitis?
- Antibiotics for 48 hours+
- Antiemetics (N+V)
- Ambulate on day of surgery
- Flatus?
- Advance diet as tolerated
- Monitor for S/S peritonitis (rigid, distended, pain, guarding, nausea)
what is peritonitis?
Inflammation/infection of peritoneum
• Primary or secondary cause R/T whether there is organ rupture
what are the s/sx of peritonitis?
• Severe abdominal pain • Abdominal rigidity and/or distention • Nausea and vomiting • Tympanic abdomen • Absent bowel sounds • Hypotension Fever, chills Weak rapid pulse Tachypnea ‐ due to distention Weakness
what are the diagnostics used for peritonitis?
- Labs
- X‐ray
- CT scan or ultrasound
- Peritoneoscopy (cut hole→put in scope)
- Paracentesis, culture (milky, yuck → infection)
what are the possible complications of peritonitis?
• Shock (septic or hypovolemic - rapid fluid shift)
• Abscess formation
• Paralytic ileus (no movement)
• ARDS (Adult/Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome)
Condition can spiral down to DEATH if treatment delayed
what is the treatment for peritonitis?
- Strict NPO
- IVF
- Antibiotics
- NG tube
- Analgesics
- Monitor pt status closely
what is the surgical tx for peritonitis?
Surgical intervention (laparotomy - little opening to fix problem)
• Find cause and repair damage
• Drain purulent fluid
• Flush with antibiotic solution
Postop care same as with Appendicitis
Pt education if secondary to preventable cause
what is crohn’s disease?
A chronic transmural (throughout the bowel), incurable, inflammatory disease of the bowel - life long
Crohn’s disease can lead to ____ and _____
fibrosis and obstruction (infection → tries to heal → lesions heal → tissue not the same → problems absorbing nutrients)
characteristics of crohn’s disease?
- Entire thickness of bowel wall and all layers of submucosa
- Deep fissures develop, leading to fistulas and abscesses
- Can have “skip” lesions, with health tissue between,“cobblestoning”
- Altered nutrition due to malabsorption and scarring (high sugar and fat exacerbates it)
what are the risks factors for crohn’s disease?
probably a combination of: • Environmental • Dietary • Genetic – heredity (caucasian), gender (female), age, familial • Altered immune system, gut microflora