GI emergencies Flashcards
Peritoneum
lining of the abdominal cavity; 2 layers: visceral (inner) and parietal (outer)
visceral abdominal pain
involves the organ itself; less severe, poorly localized, dull, aching pain
parietal pain
irritation of the peritoneal lining; more localized pain, sharp, severe
referred pain
visceral pain that is felt somewhere else in the body, different from the organ where the problem is
peritonitis
irritation or inflammation of the peritoneum, due to chemical substances leaking into paritoneal cavity; causes abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea; can do Markle test (stand on toes and then land hard on heels- will cause abdominal pain)
appendicitis
inflammation of appendix which may lead to rupture if untreated; symptoms: abdominal pain, nausea/vomiting, positive Markle test/peritonitis
pancreatitis
inflammation of pancreas
cholecystitis
inflammation of the gall bladder, commonly associated with presence of gall stones; pain in right upper quadrant; 5 F’s for gall stones: female, fat, fair, forty, fertile
esophageal varices
bulging or weakening of vessels in the lining of lower esophagus; often seen in alcoholics; symptoms: vomiting blood
gastroenteritis
inflammation of small intestines and stomach; often due to infection; vomiting and diarrhea; need to treat dehydration
bowel obstruction
can be in large or small intestines; must give treatment right away or could lead to sepsis or shock
hernia
a portion of small intestine shifts outside the abdominal wall due to a lining weakness
kidney stones
renal calculi, originate in kidneys and must pass through the rest of urinary tract
kidney failure
acute KF is usually reversible; chronic KF patients require dialysis in order to filter out water and waste products from blood
involuntary guarding
also called rigidity; patient’s abdominal muscles contract and tighten up