Lower GI Flashcards
What increases the secretions and motility of the GI?
Food
Nervous system –> CNS vs PNS
Activity –> light activity stimulates, rapid stops, sedentary slows
Disease –>inflammation, disease can increase or decrease
What decreases secretions and motility?
diet (fibre)
Age
Stretching of colon –> peristalsis
What kind of instestinal infarction needs to occur to impact the GI?
A large clot of a major artery; GI has many redundancies so when one issue arises there are other ways around the problem
What kind of altered motility is Diarrhea? Describe what occurs. What can cause it? How is it Treated?
Excessive motility, Loss of fluids has a potential for dehydration
Commonly caused by infectious or toxic agents leading to epithelial disruption
Can be caused by drugs, chemo, foods, and more
Treated with: rehydration, bulkng agents,
anti-motility drugs (loperamide) –> not alwyas used, if from sickness or infection might be left to ride it out unless it is direct cause of dehydration
What kind of altered motility is Constipation? Describe what occurs. What can cause it? How is it Treated?
Inadequate/ reduced motility. Stool becomes harder and more difficult to pass
Impactions and discomfort, Enteric nervous system disruption
Treated: motility agents (sennosides, bisacodyl, PEG), fluids, bulking agents (fibre), stool softeners (docusate)
Who is at risk for Diarrhea?
Travelers, children in daycare, elderly in nursing homes, food workers, hospitalized pts
What are the main differences between Non-inflammatory and Inflammatory diarrhea?
Non-inflammatory is less sevre but can cause dehydration
Inflammatory has presence of blood and fecal leukocytes; more severe illness
What main organisms can cause diarrhea?
Camphylobacter jejuni, Salmonella, Shigella, E. coli
When do you refer diarrhea to a physician?
blood
>7 days
travel-associated
Immunocompromised
fever, severly ill, debilitated
extremes in age young/old
complex patient
What is the self management for diarrhea?
Hydration
Rest
hygiene
healthy diet
Loperamide to reduce duration of symptomms
Simethicone for gas and cramping
Are neoplasms of the small intestine common?
No
What are the 3 types of hernia obstructions?
Bulging through
telesxcoping
Twisting
What kind of tumor accounts for 90% of all tumors in intestinal neoplasms?
Epithelial tumors (adenomas and carcinomas)
What are some common signs of a small bowel neoplasm?
nausea, affected apetite, changes in bowel habits, diffuculty or pain on eating, wt loss
What causes IBD?
Combination of genetics, environment, and immune response
