GI/GU Emergencies

Question 1

What is peritonitis?

Answer 1

Foreign substance like blood, pus, or bile irritate the peritonium

Question 2

What is acute abdomen?

Answer 2

Sudden onset of abdominal pain, usually associated with severe progressive problems that require medical attention

Question 3

What is ileus?

Answer 3

Paralysis of muscular contractions that normally propel material through the intestine

Question 4

What is diverticulitis?

Answer 4

Inflammation in small pockets at weak areas in muscle walls of the intestine.

Question 5

What is cholecystitis?

Answer 5

inflammation of the gallbladder.

Question 6

What is referred pain?

Answer 6

Other painful sensations that occur because of an irritated visceral peritoneum that may be perceived at a distant point on the surface of body, like the neck or shoulder.

Question 7

What are common causes of ulcers?

Answer 7

infection in stomach of helicobacter pylori bacteria, chronic use of NSAIDS (asprin & ibuprofen), Alcohol and smoke can affect severity by increasing gastric acidity.

Question 8

What is the characteristic pain of ulcers?

Answer 8

Burning or gnawing pain in the upper abdomen or below the sternum. Pain may subside while eating and come back 2-3 hrs later.

Question 9

Symptoms of ulcers?

Answer 9

nausea, vomiting, belching, heartburn. If severe, hematemesis and melana.

Question 10

What happen when gallstones form?

Answer 10

Gallstones form and either pass or cause a blockage, resulting in pain and possibly rupture

Question 11

What is characteristic pain of gallstones?

Answer 11

right upper or midabdominal pain, may start 30 minutes after eating a fatty meal and often at night. Pain may refer to the shoulder, flank, or right upper back. Pain may come and go or steadily increase.

Question 12

Symptoms of gallstones?

Answer 12

nausea, vomiting, belching, indigestion, gas, bloating

Question 13

What can cause pancreatitis?

Answer 13

gallstone obstruction, alcohol abuse, other diseases

Question 14

What is characteristic pain of pancreatitis?

Answer 14

Upper left quadrant, upper right quadrant, may radiate to back. May also be worse after eating.

Question 15

What are signs and symptoms of pancreatitis?

Answer 15

pain, nausea, vomiting, abdominal distention, tenderness. Fever like symptoms may appear from sepsis or hemorrhage.

Question 16

What is appendicitis?

Answer 16

Infection or inflammation of the appendix

Question 17

What can eventually happen to the appendix when infected or inflammed?

Answer 17

Rupture can occur, causing abscess, shock, or peritonitis

Question 18

What is the characteristic pain of appendicitis?

Answer 18

Generalized pain that is dull and diffuse in the umbilical area. Will later localize in right lower quadrant.

Question 19

Signs and symptoms of appendicitis?

Answer 19

Nausea, vomiting, rebound tenderness, anorexia, fever, and chills

Question 20

What can cause upper GI bleeds?

Answer 20

esophagitis, esophageal varices secondary to liver failure, mallory-weiss tear

Question 21

What can cause lower GI bleeds?

Answer 21

bowel inflammation, diverticulosis, diverticulitis, cancer, and hemorrhoids.

Question 22

What are symptoms of esophagitis?

Answer 22

pain with swallowing, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, sores in mouth

Question 23

What are esophageal varices?

Answer 23

capillary vessels of the esophagus begin leaking

Question 24

In what 2 ways can esophageal varices present?

Answer 24

As liver disease or sudden onset

Question 25

What is a Mallory-Weiss tear and its principle symptom?

Answer 25

A tear between the stomach and esophagus. Risk factors are alcoholism and eating disorders. Principle symptom is violent coughing or vomiting.

Question 26

What is gastroenteritis?

Answer 26

An infection from viruses or bacteria, can also be noninfectious.

Question 27

What is the main symptom of gastroenteritis?

Answer 27

Diarrhea

Question 28

What is diverticulitis?

Answer 28

Fecal matter getting trapped in the colon, causing infection and inflammation

Question 29

What is the main symptom of diverticulitis?

Answer 29

Abdominal pain often localized to lower left quadrant.

Question 30

What are symptoms of diverticulitis?

Answer 30

abdominal pain, fever, malaise, body aches, chills

Question 31

What are hemorrhoids?

Answer 31

Swelling and inflammation of the vessels surrounding the rectum

Question 32

State risk factors for hemorrhoids

Answer 32

Those with conditions that increase pressure or irritation of rectum, pregnant women, chronic constipation, straining stools

Question 33

What is cystitis?

Answer 33

Bladder infection from bacteria AKA UTI

Question 34

What is the main symptom of cystitis?

Answer 34

Frequent and urgent urination

Question 35

What are symptoms of cystitis?

Answer 35

midline lower abdominal pain, urgent and frequent urination, blood in urine, pressure and pain around bladder

Question 36

What is uremia?

Answer 36

Loss of ability to excrete waste from the body

Question 37

What is the main symptom of kidney stones

Answer 37

Pain in the flank that can radiate to the groin

Question 38

State causes of acute kidney failure

Answer 38

hemorrhage, dehydration, trauma, shock, sepsis, heart failure, medications, drug abuse, and kidney stones

Question 39

State main causes of chronic kidney failure

Answer 39

Diabetes and hypertension

Question 40

What causes abdominal aortic aneurysm?

Answer 40

Weakness in walls of aorta that swell

Question 41

What is a hernia?

Answer 41

protrusion of an organ or tissue through an opening into a body cavity where it doesn't belong

Question 42

What can cause hernias?

Answer 42

congenital defect, natural weakness, and surgical wounds that have failed to properly heal

Question 43

What are signs and symptoms of hernias?

Answer 43

pain at site of hernia, red or blue skin discoloration at site, tenderness when palpated, and when the mass is no longer reducible