Gatrointestinal

Question 1

Medication for Peritonitis

Answer 1

Priority treatment in peritonitis is administering prescribed antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin, metronidazole, or ceftriaxone

Question 2

Peritonitis

Answer 2

• An intra-abdominal severe infection
• Peritonitis may originate from perforation (appendix, intestine, etc.), which causes a significant amount of fluid and bacteria to shift into the peritoneum
• Clinical manifestations of peritonitis include
  ✓ Rigid, board-like abdomen
  ✓ Distended abdomen
  ✓ High fever
  ✓ Tachycardia
  ✓ Diffuse abdominal pain that continues to intensify
  ✓ Decreased bowel sounds and GI motility

Question 3

Clients with occult blood in the stool

Answer 3

should avoid any medication that increases the client’s risk of bleeding, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Question 4

Appendicitis

Answer 4

• inflammation of the appendix caused by a trapped fecalith
• patient with appendicitis will likely have tenderness at McBurney’s point

McBurney’s sign is indicated when there is significant pain upon palpation in the RLQ

Appendiceal rupture
- sudden relief of pain may indicate appendix rupture (which may lead to infection, peritonitis, and abscess)

• S/Sx: distended abdomen, board-like rigidty, absent flatus, absent feces, absent/ diminished sounnd, absence of pain
• a surgical emergency
• HCP may order CT imaging to confirm the diagnosis.
• Tachycardia, tachypnea, fever, restlessness, and irritability may follow
• WBC count can be checked to look for signs of infection, such as leukocytosis