Module 4 EB #2 Flashcards
S/S associated with constipation
-physical exam
-additional dx tests
-digital rectal exam w/ assessment for anatomic abnormalities (anal stricture, rectocele, rectal prolapse, or perineal descent during straining) and assessment of pelvic floor motion during stimulated defecation (the patient’s ability to “expel the examiner’s finger)
-CBC, serum electrolytes, glucose, TSH, colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy –> MUST be performed in patients w/ any of the following: >equal 50 yrs old, severe constipation, signs of an organic disorders, alarm sx (hematochezia, wt loss, positive FOBT or FIT), or family hx of colon cancer or inflammatory bowel disease
Chronic constipation treatment - dietary and lifestyle measures (5)
- establish regular bowel regimen (regular timing, proper positioning, and abdominal pressure)
- ensure adequate fluid and fiber intake
-prescribe fiber supplements
-SE: distention; flatulence (diminished over several days; may take 7-10d for full effect); best in patients with normal colonic transit
-Fiber will EXACERBATE SYMPTOMS: colonic inertia, defecatory disorders, opioid-induced constipation, or IBS - regular exercise
- D/C meds that may be causing or contributing to constipation
- Probiotics: improves stool frequency and consistency (low efficacy)
Fecal impaction
-def
-predisposing factors
-clinical presentation
-severe impaction of stool in the rectal vault may result in obstruction to further fecal flow, leading to partial or complete large bowel obstruction
-medications (opioids), severe psychiatric disease, prolonged bed rest, neurologic disorders of the colon, and spinal cord disorders
-decreased appetite, nausea and vomiting, and abdominal pain and distention; may be paradoxical “diarrhea” as liquid stool leaks around the impacted feces
fecal impaction
-digital rectal exam
-initial treatment
-long-term care
-firm feces are palpable on digital exam of the rectal vault
-relieve the impaction w/ enemas (saline, mineral oil, or diatrizoate) or digital disruption of the impacted fecal material
-maintain soft stools and regular BMs
Chronic constipation treatment
-laxatives: who to give it to; types of laxatives
-ONLY give an intermittent or chronic basis for constipation that does not respond to dietary and lifestyle changes
-Osmotic laxatives: initiated w/ regular (daily) use of an osmotic laxative
*MOA: increase secretion o water into the intestinal lumen, thereby softening stools and promoting defecation
*Polyethylene glycol 3350 (MiraLAX) is a component of solutions traditionally used for colonic lavage prior to colonoscopy and does not cause flatulence
*Onset: generally w/i 24 hr
-Purgative laxative: rapid tx of acute constipation - magnesium citrate
*magnesium citrate may cause hypermagnesemia
-Stimulant laxatives: pt w/ incomplete response to osmotic agents; “rescue” agent or on a regular basis 3-4x/wk
*MOA: stimulate fluid secretion and colonic contraction
*Onset: 6-12 hours after oral ingestion (@bedtime) or 15-60 minutes after rectal admin
*Meds: bisacodyl, Senna, and cascara
Gastrointestinal gas: belching
-def
-prevalence
-etiology
-involuntary or voluntary release of gas from the stomach or esophagus
-occurs most frequently after meals
-normal reflex and does not itself mean GI dysfunction
*virtually all stomach gas comes from swallowed air
*excessive amounts - distention, flatulence, and abdominal pain
*occurs with rapid eating, gum chewing, smoking, and the ingestion of carbonated beverages
Gastrointestinal gas: belching
-restrict eval to pt with other complaints
-chronic excessive belching
-dysphagia, heartburn, early satiety, or vomiting
-supragastric belching or true air swallowing (aerophagia) = BEHAVIORAL D/O seen in pt with anxiety or psych disorders
*REFER TO BEHAVIORAL/SPEECH THERAPIST
Gastrointestinal gas: flatus
-derived from two sources
-etiology (abnormal gas production)
-swallowed air (primarily nitrogen) and bacterial fermentation of undigested carbohydrate
-increased ingestion of lactose (dairy products); fructose (fruits, corn syrups, and some sweeteners); polyols (stone-fruits, mushrooms, and some sweeteners); and fructans (legumes, cruciferous vegetables, pasta, and whole grains) or disorders of malabsorption
Gastrointestinal gas: flatus
-education
-treatment
-provide patient with a list of foods containing FODMAPS + REFER to dietician
-activated charcoal (may afford relief, but simethicone is of no proved benefit)
*long-history of flatulence w/ no other sx: treated conservatively
*AVOID gum chewing and carbonated beverages; assess lactose intolerance (2 week trial of a lactose-free diet or by a hydrogen breath test)
Gastrointestinal gas: bloating
-cause
-treatment
-production of excess gas or impaired gas propulsion –> bloating
*underlying functional GI disorder (IBS or functional dyspepsia)
-reduce fermentable sugars w/ a FODMAP-restricted diet
*reduce intake of dietary fat (delays intestinal gas clearance)
*tx constipation
*encourage exercise
Gastrointestinal gas: bloating
-medication
rifaximin, 400mg twice daily
-MOA: a nonabsorbable oral abx; reduces abd bloating and flatulence in approx 40% of treated pt
-SE: relapse (bloating) commonly occurs w/i days after stopping the abx
Diarrhea
-def
-important to distinguish what?
-increased stool frequency >3BMs/day or liquidity of feces
-distinguish acute vs chronic diarrhea, as the evaluation and tx are entirely different
Diarrhea: acute diarrhea
-def
-acute noninflammatory diarrhea vs acute inflammatory diarrhea
-diarrhea of >2 weeks’ duration is most commonly caused by invasive or noninvasive pathogens and their enterotoxins
-acute noninflammatory diarrhea: watery, nonbloody; usually mild, self-limiting; virus or noninvasive bacteria
*diagnostic evaluation: limited to patient’s w/ diarrhea that is severe or persists beyond 7 days
-acute inflammatory diarrhea: blood or pus, fever; invasive or toxin-producing bacterium
*diagnostic evaluation: requires routine stool bacterial cultures in all and testing as clinically indicated for Clostridium difficile toxin, and ova and parasites
Diarrhea
-etiology
-clinical findings (6)
-acute diarrhea that persists for <2wks due to infectious agents, bacterial toxins, or meds
*community outbreaks (nursing homes, schools, cruise ships): viral etiology or common food source
*Similar recent illnesses in family members: infectious origin
*ingestion of improperly stored/prepared food: food poisoning
*Day care attendance or exposure to unpurified water (camping, swimming): Giardia or Cryptosporidium
*recent travel abroad: “traveler’s diarrhea”
*abx administration w/i the preceding several weeks: C difficile colitis
Acute inflammatory diarrhea
-def
-patho
-S/S
-fever and bloody diarrhea (dysentery)
-colonic tissue damage r/t by invasion (shigellosis, salmonellosis, Campylobacter or Yersinia infection, amebiasis) or toxin (C difficile, Shiga-toxin-producing E coli)
-SMALL VOLUME of DIARRHEA + LEFT LOWER QUADRANT CRAMPS, urgency, and tenesmus
Acute inflammatory diarrhea
-labs
-impact of: E coli; CMV
-infectious dysentery must be distinguished from what?
-fecal leukocytes or lactoferrin (usually are present in infectious w/ invasive organisms)
-E coli: shiga-toxin - producing noninvasive organism; contaminated meat = severe hemorrhagic colitis
-CMV: immunocompromised & HIV-infected pt = intestinal ulceration w/ watery or bloody diarrhea
-infectious dysentery must be distinguished from acute ulcerative colitis: BOTH can be present acutely with fever, abd pain, and bloody diarrhea
how is diarrhea categorized if it lasts longer than 14 days?
diarrhea that persists longer than 14 days is not attributable to bacterial pathogens (except for C difficile) and should be evaluated as chronic diarrhea
acute noninflammatory diarrhea
-def
-patho
-S/S
-watery, nonbloody diarrhea associated w/ periumbilical cramps, bloating, nausea or vomiting
-suggests small bowel source r/t a toxin-producing bacterium (enterotoxigenic E coli, staphylococcus aureus, bacillus cereus, clostridium perfringens) or other agents (viruses, Giardia)
-VOLUMINOUS AMOUNTS OF DIARRHEA = dehydration w/ hypokalemia and metabolic acidosis (cholera)
Acute noninflammatory diarrhea
-labs
-what bacteria causes food poisoning sx prominent vomiting?
-NO tissue invasion = NO fecal leukocytes
-S aureus food poisoning: prominent vomiting (viral enteritis)
Diarrhea
-what does 90% of patients with diarrhea illness respond to for treatment?
-responds w/i 5 days to simple rehydration therapy or antidiarrheal agents
-diagnostic investigation is unnecessary except in suspected outbreaks or in patients at high risk for spreading infection to others
Diarrhea
-what is the goal of initial evaluation
distinguish patients w/ mild disease from those w/ more serious illness
-if diarrhea worsens or persists >7-14 days, send stool for analysis for viral, protozoan, and bacterial pathogens
Diarrhea
-when is prompt medical evaluation required? (8)
*inflammatory diarrhea signs: fever >38.5C, WBC>15000, bloody diarrhea, severe abd pain
*6+ unformed stools in 24 hours
*profuse water diarrhea and dehydration
*frail older patients or nursing home residents
*immunocompromised patients (AIDS, post-transplant)
*exposure to abx
*hospital-acquired diarrhea (onset following at least 3 days of hospitalization)
*systemic illness
Diarrhea
-physical exam
-labs
-assess patient’s level of hydration, mental status, presence of abd tenderness or peritonitis
*peritoneal findings may be present in infection w/ C difficile or STEC
*Hospitalization: required in patient w/ severe dehyration, organ failure, marked abd pain, AMS
-stool specimen should be collected in patient’s w/ dysentery (blood stools), severe illness, or persistent diarrhea to assess for fecal WBC and protozoa
*blood stools: perform serotyping for Shiga-toxin-producing E coli (STEC)
*Hospitalized patients w/ abx exposure: test for C difficile toxin
Diarrhea
-treatment options
-Diet
-Antidiarrheals
-Antibiotic therapy