Nursing mgmt of the patient with an acute GI disorder Flashcards
Ingestion
Food is taken into the oral cavity
Digestion
- Starts with chewing, food is broken down into small particles that. can be swallowed and mixed with digestive enzymes (Salivary amylase) also known as chyme
Absorption
- Small nutrient molecules produced by digestion
- Occurs in SI jejunum
- Accomplished by active transport and diffusion across the intestinal wall into circulation
Elimination
Undigested, unabsorbed food and other waste products
Salivary amylase
- Digestive enzyme that is for chewing and swallowing saliva
Hydrochloric acid
- Secretion used in digestion that breaks down chyme into absorbable molecules
Pepsin
Secreted by the stomach for protein digestion
Bile
- Produced by the liver, emulsifies fats
- Stored in the gallbladder
- Secreted into the small intestine for fat emulsion
Amylase
- Produced by the pancreas, with its active site being in the small intestine
- Digest carbs and starches
Lipase
- Produced in the pancreas with its active site being in the small intestine
- Digestion of fats
Trypsin
- Produced in the pancreas with its active site being in the small intestine
- Supports the digestion of proteins
Sphincter of Oddi
- Second portion of duodenum
- Regulates the flow of bile and pancreatic enzymes into the small intestine
Exocrine functions of the pancreas
- Secretes externally through excretory ducts through pancreatic duct
- Secretes: Amylase, trypsin, lipase
- Secretions contain bicarb to neutralize acid from gastric fluids
Endocrine functions of pancreas
Secretion directly into the bloodstream
* Islets of langerhans
* Beta (Insulin)
* Alpha (Glucagon)
* Delta cells (Somatostatin)
Leading GI cause of hospitalization in the US
Acute pancreatitis
Main causes of Acute pancreatitis
- Gallstones
- Chronic alc use disorder
Prognosis of Acute pancreatitis for alc
Poor
Prognosis of Acute pancreatitis for Gallstones
Better, you can directly fix the cause which makes it easier to treat
Acute Pancreatitis
- Acute, inflammatory condition caused by dmg to the acinar cells
- Classified and diagnosed via Atlanta criteria
Diagnosis of acute pancreatitis
Diagnosis requires 2 of the following
* Abdominal pain
* Increase in serum amylase or lipase levels to 3x of the upper limit of normal
* Radiographic evidence of disease
Chronic pancreatitis is often undetected, slower process until the person has acute pancreatitis and shows the dmg that has been done
Types of Pancreatitis: Acute interstitial edematous pancreatitis
- Enlargement of pancreas from inflammatory edema
- 80% of cases
- Very treatable
Types of acute pancreatitis: Necrotizing pancreatitis with necrosis of the pancreatic parenchyma
- Destruction of the pancreas and local blood vessels by its own digestive enzymes
- Essentially digestive enzymes leak out and digest their own tissue
- Involves the cells of the pancreas, causing inflammation to the pancreas and the surrounding tissue
- More severe and a higher mortality
Atlanta classification for acute pancreatitis: Mild
- No organ failure
- No local or systemic complications
Atlanta classification for acute pancreatitis: Moderately severe
- Organ failure that resolves within 48 hours (Transient organ failure)
- Local or systemic complications without persistent organ failure
Atlanta classification for acute pancreatitis: Severe
- Persistent organ failure (>48 hours)
- Single or multi organ failure
- High mortality rate
Acute pancreatitis path
- Autodigestion of pancreas by prematurely activated enzymes
- Inciting factor -> Inflammation –> Ductal obstruction -> increased pressure and duct rupture -> Release of pancreatic enzymes into pancreatic tissue -> intense inflammation
Chronic pancreatitis
- May not know you have it until an acute exasperation
- Progressive destructive, inflammation and fibrosis
Causes and risks of acute pancreatitis
- Gallstones
- Alc use
- Cigarette smoking and alc use together have increased risk (Positive correlation based on pack years)
- ERCP, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography or GI surgery (Inflammation)
- Hypertriglyceridemia (Triglycerides at like 1000)
- Genetics
- Medications
- Idiopathic, no known cause
Clinical presentation: Acute pancreatitis
- Pain
- N+V
- Abdominal distension, hypoactive bowel sounds, tender abdomen
- Warm, moist skin, fruity breath
- Fever
- Weight loss (If it goes on for any period of time)
- Jaundice
Pain: Acute pancreatitis
- Sudden acute, onset of severe, boring pain in mid epigastrium ( below Sternum)
- May radiate to back, left flank or left shoulder (Diaphragm aggravation)
- Worse with lying down
- Relieved some sitting upright or bending forward
- Begins 24-48 hours after a heavy meal or alc ingestion
- Unrelieved by antacids
Why do you have fruity breath with acute pancreatitis
- Acute pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas, which produces insulin, if you can’t produce/release insulin you’re going to have hyperglycemia which causes the breakdown of ketones like DKA
Severe S+S pancreatitis
- Fever
- Tachypnea
- Tachycardia
- Hypoxemia
- Hypotension
- Confusion
- Agitation
- Dyspnea from diahragmatic inflammation
- Pleural effusion from acities
- ARDS
S+S Acute pancreatitis
- Severe signs
- Seepage of blood stained exudates into tissue (Grey turners, cullen’s sign)
- Ascites
- Hypocalcemia/Tetany (Trousseau, Chvostek ), twitching and cramping are first tho
Hypercalcemia and pancreatitis
- May be present initially or even a possible cause of acute pancreatitis however with disease progression hypocalcemia is much more common
Trousseau’s sign
- Italian hand
- Hand spasm with BP cuff inflation, twitching indicates hypocalcemia
Chvostek’s Sign
- Facial twitching when facial nerve is tapped
- Indicates hypocalcemia
Grey turners sign
Flank ecchymosis (Bruising), indication of acute pancreatitis
Cullen’s sign
- Bluish gray periumbilical discoloration
- Indication of acute pancreatitis
Key points for history with a patient with acute pancreatitis
- History or symptoms of gallstones
- Amount and pattern of alc use (5 years of heavy consumptoms, of greater than 4 drinks a day)
- Medications (Prescription or non, new? immunotherapy for cancer)
- Smoking history
- Family history of pancreatitis
- Unexplained weight loss
- New onset diabetes
- Prior history of surgery (Abdominal /ERCP)
- Hypertriglyceridemia
Lab test for acute pancreatitis: Elevated
- Amylase: INcreased with 24 hours and for 2-3 days
- Lipase: Increases slowly, and will stay elevated longer than amylase (3x ULN)
- Urine amylase: INcreased for a week
- Liver enzymes and bilirubin: Increased if associated with biliary dysfunction
- WBC: Increased due to infection/ inflammation
- Blood glucose: Increased due to decreased insulin
- Inflammatory markers: Increased (ESR, CRP)
Labs for acute pancreatitis: Decreased
- Calcium and Magnesium: Decreased due to fat necrosis
- Mg must be corrected before calcium
- Hemoglobin and hematocrit: Can vary depending on bleeding
- Plt: Decreased
Diagnostic test : Acute Pancreatitis
- CT of the abdomen
- MRI (Less Nephrotoxic)
- Abdominal ultrasound (Typically done in the ER)
- Endoscopic Ultrasound
- Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatogram (MRCP)
- X-rays, chest and abdomen to rule out other cause
Medical complications of Acute pancreatitis
- Necrosis of pancreatic tissue
- Peripancreatic fluid collections or abscess (Sterile or infected)
- Pseudocyst (Fluid collection around the gland
- Pancreatic fistula formation
- Hemorrhage
- Hypovolemia and shock
- Fluid and electrolyte imbalances
- Acute renal failure
- Type 1 Diabetes
- Pleural effusion, Atelectasis, ARDS
- Pericardial effusion, arrhythmias
- Coagulation defects: Microvascular dysfunction, DIC
- Systemic inflammatory system (SIRS)/ Sepsis -> Multi organ failure (MSOF) -> death
Nursing problems Acute pancreatitis
- Acuity of patient: ICU or floor
- Fluid and electrolyte imbalance (Replace F+E after fluid shift)
- Impaired breathing (Need good resp care)
- Impaired perfusion (Decreased BV)
- Acute Pain
- Impaired nutrition status (NPO initially)
Mgmt of acute pancreatitis: Relieve symptoms and prevent and treat complications
- Rapid and accurate diagnosis
- Severity determination (Ranson, APACHE II, Atlantic) If determined to be severe, they go to ICU
- ABC
- Monitor electrolytes. BUN/ creat, lactate, WBC, Hgb/HCT liver function amylase, lipase
- Replace electrolytes: K, Mg, Ca
- Type and screen: Transfuse of hemorrhaging
Mgmt of acute pancreatitis: Aggressive fluid resuscitation
- LR or NS, albumin or blood products (Usually not blood until they are stable)
- Monitor for Fluid overload
- Frequent cardiac and resp assessment
- Intra-abdominal hypertension, pressure monitoring
- Strict I+O
Mgmt of acute pancreatitis: Resp
- Aggressive resp care
- Elevation of diaphragm
- Pulmonary infiltrates
- Pleural effusion
- Atelectasis
- Oxygen and mechanical vent if hypoxemic
- ABG
- Cough and deep breathing, reposition every 2 hours, semi fowlers (15-45 degrees)
- May be vented
Mgmt of acute pancreatitis: Cardiac
- Hemodynamic monitoring in ICU
- CVP
- PA cath
- MAP
- HR (Stroke volume, CO)
- Tele monitoring changes for arrhythmias, EKG changes (ST elevations) which can indicate MI
Mgmt of acute pancreatitis: GI
- Abdominal assessment
- NG suction: Not a standard of care unless ileus or severe vomiting
Mgmt of acute pancreatitis: Biliary drains and stents
- Document output
- May improve pain control, allowing flow
Mgmt of acute pancreatitis: Hyperglycemia
- IV insulin, insulin drip during acute phase if uncontrolled
- Long acting subQ
- Premeal and sliding scale
Mgmt of acute pancreatitis: Nutrition
-
early enteral nutrition recommended within 72 hours of admission via NG/NJ
- Prevents dmg to intestinal mucosa and gut barrier to decrease risk for gut bacterial translocation
- Reduced risk of infectious peripancreatic necrosis or SIRS
- Reduced length of stay
- Bowel motility Repletes caloric losses
- Parenteral nutrition is ONLY used for ileus or bowel obstruction
Mild acute pancreatitis: diet
- NPO initially to rest the bowels
- Low residue, low fat diet as tolerated
- Low residue diet limits fiber, and restricts other foods that can stimulate bowel activity
Limit of fiber for low residue diet
<10-15 g per day
Do you give morphine for acute pancreatitis
- Nah its best to avoid due to causing sphincter of oddi dysfunction
Acute pancreatitis: Pain mgmt
- Opioids: Fentanyl, Hydromorphone
- Nsaids: Ketorolac (Tordol)
- Epidural analgesia
Caution with ketorolac
- Toradol
- Avoid in kidney disease or acute kidney injury, GI ulceration, GI bleeding
Nursing mgmt of Acute pancreatitis pain
- Assure the effectiveness of pain medication, Use a pain scale
- Side effects of opioids: Resp depression, N+V, Constipation
- Monitor for ileus due to opiods
- Bowel regimen
- Position patient for comfort, reposition Q 2 hrs
- Bedrest then increase mobility as tolerated
- Anti emetics
- Non pharm: Relaxation, guided imagery, focused breathing
Comfortable positions for acute pancreatitis
- Sitting up/leaning forward
- Side lying
- Fetal
- HOB up
NOT on their back
Should you give a patient with a sterile abscess antibiotics
No it isn’t infected it wont do anything
Med mgmt of acute pancreatitis: Antimicrobials
- Culture is taken to see what bacteria
- Imipenem (Beta-lactam) is go to due to its effect on Gram+/-
- No need for sterile pancreatic necrosis
- No role for prophylactic antibiotics to prevent infection
Nursing actions are to monitor temp and S+S infection
mgmt of acute pancreatitis: Wound care
- Patients can have multiple drains
- Primary intention: Wound edges approximated, sewed shut by surgery
- Secondary intention: Left open by surgery, requires wound packing