Peptic Ulcers & GER/GERD Flashcards
What are peptic ulcers ?
erosion of the GI mucosa due to the digestive action of HCl acid and pepsin
- acute or chronic
What are acute peptic ulcers ?
- superficial erosion
- minimal inflammation
- short duration
- resolves quickly when cause is identified and removed
What are chronic peptic ulcers ?
- long duration
- eroding through the muscular wall with the formation of fibrous tissue
- present continuously for many months or intermittently throughout the person’s lifetime
What are some risk factors for Peptic Ulcers ?
- Acid environment (increase in acid causes inflammation and histamine release which causes more secretion of acid and pepsin)
- H. pylori bacterial infection
- Medical-induced injury: NSAIDS & Aspirin
- Lifestyle: alcohol, coffee psychologic stress, smoking
What are the 2 types of peptic ulcers ?
gastric & duodenal
- mortality is greater in gastric because they tend to affect those over 50 yrs
What are some characteristics of gastric ulcers ?
- greater in women
- peak age is 50-60 yrs
- increase mortality
- more common in people of lower socioeconomic status
- increased with smoking, drug use (aspirin, NSAIDS), H.pylori, and alcohol use
- increased with incompetent pyloric sphincter and bile reflux
What are some characteristics of Duodenal ulcers ?
- greater in men but increasing in women (especially postmenopausal)
- peak age is 35-45 hrs
- associated with psychological stress
- increased with smoking, drug use and alcohol use
- associated with other disease (COPD, pulmonary disease, pancreatic disease, hyperparathyroidism, Zollinger-Ellison’s, chronic renal failure)
What are some clinical manifestations of gastric ulcers ?
- pain in left epigastrum, back and upper abdomen
- “burning & gaseous” pain
- 1 to 2 hours after a meal
- if ulcer is through the mucosa the pain is worse when eating
What are some clinical manifestations of duodenal ulcers ?
- mid-epigastric pain, beneath xiphoid process, or back pain
- “burning or cramplike” pain
- 2-5 hrs after a meal
- food may relieve pain
Why does the pain occur hours after a meal in duodenal ulcers ?
food moving from the stomach to the duodenum takes a few hours so when it finally reaches the duodenum then that is when acid is secreted again to further digest the food which irritates the ulcers here
- food makes pain lessen because it helps neutralize the acid
What are some diagnostic studies for Peptic ulcers ?
- endoscopy with or without biopsy
- test for H. pylori (breathing test or biopsy)
- barium contrast studies (only if endoscopy isn’t possible)
- gastric analysis
- Labs: CBC, liver enzyme studies and stool examination (looking for problems that could cause complications)
What is some nursing care for an Endoscopy ?
- before procedure: NPO for 6-12 hrs
- after procedure: NPO until gag reflex returns (1-2 hours)
- monitor for pain, bleeding, unusual difficult swallowing, elevated temperature
- minor throat discomfort: lozenges, saline gargle
- bed rest until fully alert
- inform pt that they may experience some bloating, belching and flatulence
What are some symptoms of hemorrhage with peptic ulcers ?
most common: due to erosion
- change in vital signs (if lots of blood loss)
- bleeding per stool or NG output
- lower RBC count
What are some symptoms of perforation ?
EMERGENCY
- in large duodenal ulcers or those on lesser curvature of stomach
- acute pain
- rigid/board-like abdomen
- elevated WBCs
- may need antibiotic and go into surgery
What is gastric outlet obstruction ?
sudden onset of narrowing of pylorus due to edema, inflammation or scar tissue
- S&S: increased gastric residual, vomiting, constipation
What is the tx for hemorrhage of ulcers ?
- NG tube to suction for 1-2 days
- IV fluids and electrolytes (blood transfusion if needed)
- careful I/O monitoring
- endoscopy
What is the tx for perforation ?
- notify provider immediately
- NG tube to suction
- antibiotics
- IV fluids: usually lactated ringer’s
- prepare for emergency surgery
What is the tx for gastric outlet obstruction ?
- NG tube to suction
- fluid and electrolytes