GI Tract Disorders and Drugs Flashcards
What are esophageal varices?
Enlarged tortuous veins in the lower part of the esophagus
Veins are very fragile - rupture causes massive hemorrhage and is a medical emergency
What are two main symptoms of esophageal varices?
Coffee ground emesis
Melena - black tarry stools
Pathophysiology of esophageal varices
Damaged liver causes obstruction of the portal venal circulation, which increases pressure in portal circulation
Increased pressure causes venous blood from intestinal tract to seek alternative paths b/c the portal vein can’t accommodate all the blood
Venous blood goes to other veins like esophageal and gastric veins that aren’t meant to hold large amounts of blood
Increased amount of blood in esophageal veins results in enlarged tortuous veins
What is normal venous pressure?
5-10mm Hg
What is portal hypertension level?
over 10mm Hg
What factors can contribute to hemorrhage from esophageal varices?
Lifting heavy objects
Straining at stool
Sneezing, coughing
Irritation of blood vessels by poorly chewed food
Reflex of stomach contents
Alcohol
Medical management of bleeding esophageal varices
ICU admission
Fluid resuscitation - IV
Octreotide - causes selective splanchnic vasoconstriction
Vasopressin - constricts distal esophageal veins
Prevention of bleeding esophageal varices
Patient education on aggravating factors
Beta blockers I.e. Propranolol
Nitrates I.e. isosorbide - decrease risk of bleeding when used with propranolol
Symptoms of an upper GI bleed
Hematemesis
Melena
Where do upper GI bleeds occur?
Above the jejunum
Where do lower GI bleeds occur?
Jejunum and below
Causes of upper GI bleeds
PUD
Varices
Aspirin
NSAIDs
Corticosteroids
Gastric cancer
Causes of lower GI bleeds
Diverticula
Colon cancer
IBD
Hemorrhoids
Fissures
Symptoms of a lower GI bleed
Melena
Hematochezia
Symptoms of chronic GI bleed
Occult or microscopic without visible blood
+ Fecal occult blood test
Causes of chronic GI bleed
Cancer
Ulcers
Complications of GI bleed
Anemia
Hypovolemic shock
What is irritable bowel syndrome?
Functional disorder of intestinal motility - no structural abnormalities
What are the two types of IBS?
IBS-D: diarrhea is main symptom, increased levels of seratonin
IBS-C: constipation is main symptoms, decreased levels of seratonin
Causes of IBS
Exact causes unknown
Genetics
Environmental factors
Psychosocial factors
Food sensitivities
Alterations in intestinal micro-flora
Symptoms of IBS
Chronic abdominal pain
Altered bowel habits
Diarrhea
Constipation
Bloating
Abdominal distension
Pathophysiology of IBS
Alteration of serotonin signaling causes dysmotility of the intestine at particular segments, which alters the intensity of the forward movement of feces
Abnormal contractions and dysmotility cause abdominal pains
What are the ROME criteria?
Used to diagnose IBS
Recurrent abdominal pain one day a week with 2+ of the following for 3 months
Abdominal pain related to defecation
Abdominal pain associated with a change in frequency of stool
Abdominal pain associated with a change in form/appearance of stool
How do probiotics help with IBS?
Less abdominal pain
Management of diarrhea and constipation
Decrease abdominal bloating and gas
What is the goal of treating IBS?
Symptom management
What lifestyle modifications can be used to treat IBS?
Stress reduction
Sleep
Exercise
Dietary restrictions - identifying triggering foods
What drugs are used to manage IBS-C?
Fiber
Polyethylene-glycol
Lubriprostone
What drugs are used to manage IBS-D?
Alosetron - seratonin antagonist
Rifaximin - non absorbable antibiotic
Eluxadoline - acts on opioid receptors and decreases colonic motility
How do antidepressants treat IBS?
Increase seratonin levels
Improves intestinal transit times and abdominal discomfort
How do anti-spasmodics treat IBS?
Manage abdominal pain - drug of choice
Dicyclomine (Bentyl)
What kind of drug is Dicyclomine?
GI anti-cholinergic
What is dicyclomine used for?
IBS
What form is dicyclomine available in?
PO
IM
Nursing implications for dicyclomine
Ask patient to void before taking
MOA of GI anti-cholinergics
Blocks the effects of acetylcholine
Results in GI smooth muscle relaxation
Adverse effects of dicyclomine
Blurred vision
Dry mouth
Altered taste perception
Urinary retention
What is the appendix?
Narrow, worm-like organ attached to the cecum
Fills with the products of digestion and empties into the cecum
Why is the appendix prone to obstruction and vulnerable to infection?
Empties inefficiently and the lumen is small
Pathophysiology of appendicitis
Appendix becomes occluded or kinked, causing it to become inflamed
Intraluminal pressure is increased, worsening obstruction and causing ischemia and bacterial overgrowth, eventually leading to perforation
Clinical manifestations of appendicitis
RLQ pain
Nausea
Low grade fever
Local tenderness at McBurney’s points
Rebound tenderness
Rovsing’s sign
Increased WBC count
Rupture - diffuse abdominal pain and distension
What is the Rovsing sign?
Sign of appendicitis
Pain felt in RLQ after LLQ has been palpated
Where is McBurney’s point?
Between umbilicus and anterior superior iliac spine
Treatments for appendicitis
Appendectomy
Antibiotics
Analgesic pain meds
Cole therapy - heat not recommended, can cause rupture
What is diverticulitis?
Inflammation of diverticula
Where is diverticulitis most common and why?
Sigmoid colon
Narrowest part of the colon
Risk factors for diverticulitis
Obesity
Aging
Smoking
Low fiber diet
Pathophysiology of diverticulitis
Colon herniates, herniations fill with waste and become infected/inflamed
Complications of diverticulitis
Perforation
Abscesses
Fistula
Bowel obstruction
Peritonitis
Bleeding
Clinical manifestations of diverticulities
Can be asymptomatic
Chronic constipation
LLQ pain
Nausea
Fever
Bleeding
Fistulas
What are the two surgical methods to manage diverticulitis?
One stage - remove inflamed area and connect healthy areas
Two stage - remove damaged area, place temporary ostomy, give time to heal damaged areas and fistula, reverse the ostomy 2-3 months later
How is diverticulitis managed?
Pain relief - analgesics
Manage constipation - increase oral fluids to 2L/day, high fiber diet, increase physical activity, bulk forming laxative
Antibiotics
Surgery - for complicated cases
What treatment should not be used for diverticulitis?
Enema
What is a mechanical intestinal obstruction?
There is a detectable reason for the obstruction
Tumors, adhestions, hernia, volvulus, intussception
What is a non mechanical intestinal obstruction?
Suspension of peristalsis, parayltic ileus
Amyloidosis, diabetes, parkinson’s, after surgery, hypokalemia
Pathophysiology of intestinal obstructions
Part of bowel collapses, causing fluid, gas, and intestinal contents to accumulate
This causes fluid retention because they can’t be absorbed back into circulation, which distends the bowel and increases pressure in the bowel
Capillary permeability increases and fluids seep into the peritoneal cavity
Circulating blood volume decreases, causing hypovolemic shock
Clinical manifestations of intestinal obstruction
Negativ BM and flatus
N/V
Metabolic alkalosis
Electrolyte depletion
Crampy and wavelike abdominal pain
Abdomen feels like a rock
Management of intestinal obstruction
NPO
Decompress stomach - insert NG tube to drain fluid
Fluid and electrolyte replacement
Antiemetics, analgesics
Stress ulcer management - H2RA or PPI
Surgical management for hernia or adhesions
Risk factors for colorectal cancer
Smoking
Alcohol
Low fiber diet and high intake of beef
Aging
Obesity
H/O IBD and diabetes
H/O genital cancer
Family history
What is FAP and its characteristics?
Familial ademonatous polyposis
100+ polyps
Single gene mutation
What is Lynch syndrome and its characteristics?
No polyps
Several gene mutations
Common symptoms of colorectal cancer
Change in bowel habit
Blood in stool
Anemia
Weight loss
Fatigue
Pathophysiology of colorectal cancer
Adenocarcinoma - starts as benign polyp and destroys normal cells
Signs of right sided colon cancer
Abdominal pain
Melena
Signs of left sided colon cancer
Abdominal pain
Constipation and distension
Passage of fresh blood from rectum
Signs of rectal cancer
Rectal pain
Bloody stool
Alternating between diarrhea and constipation
Pathophysiology of IBD
Genetic predisposition
Environmental factors like exposure to air pollutants, food, and tobacco
Alterations in intestinal microbiota
All can trigger autoimmune response that results in inflammation of the intestinal tract and proliferation of inflammatory cytokines
What are the two kinds of IBD?
Crohn’s Disease
Ulcerative colities
What are the inflammatory cytokines involved in IBD?
CRP - C reactive protein
IL - interleukins
TNFA - tumor necrosis factor alpha
What part of the intestinal tract can Crohn’s disease affect?
Any part - mouth to anus
Which layers of the GI tract are involved in Crohn’s disease?
All 4 - mucosa, submucosa, muscular layer, and serosa
Complications of Crohn’s disease
Fistula
Intestinal obstruction
Abscesses