Test 3: GI and Renal Flashcards
What is the pathology of gastroenteritis?
Inflammation of gastric mucosa and intestines, most commonly the small bowel caused by viral or bacterial infections
How is gastroenteritis spread?
By fecal oral route
If the infected person vomits, the virus can become airborne with an incubation period of 1-2 days
What are the system specific assessments for gastroenteritis?
Fever, N/V, colicky, cramping abdominal pain, watery diarrhea, hyperactive bowel sounds
What are some of the potential complications of gasteroenteritis?
Fluid volume deficit (dehydration & hypovolemia)
Electrolyte imbalance (hypokalemia)
Cardiac dysrhythmias
GI bleed
Hypotension and shock
If a patient is experiencing a fluid volume deficit from gastroenteritis, what assessments would we observe?
Acute weight change (> 2% or 1 kg/24 hours)
↓ urine output
Dry mucous membranes
↑ BUN, serum osmo, H&H, urine specific gravity
Tachycardia, hypotension, syncope
Postural hypotension
Confusion, change in mental status
↑thirst, ↓skin turgor***
What is the nursing priority action for gastroenteritis?
Administer fluid replacement per order
Oral hydration preferred (ORT)
IVF replacement with electrolyte replacement may be necessary
What should we be monitoring in a patient with gastroenteritis?
(Hint: How would we be able to tell if a patient was experiencing complications of gastroenteritis)
-VS, I&O, urine output, orthostats
-Electrolytes– replace as needed per protocol
-Acid-base balance
-Skin integrity
-Older Adults and Immunocompromised due to risk
What is Cholelithiasis?
Stones in the gallbladder– typically asymptomatic until they cause and blockage of a duct and lead to cholecystitis
What is cholecystitis?
Inflammation of the gallbladder usually caused by cholelithiasis obstructing the cystic and/or common bile duct
What are the risk factors for cholecystitis?
4 F’s: Female, Forties, Fat and Fertile
Trauma
Surgery
Coronary events
Diabetes (high triglycerides)
Fasting
Immobility
Pregnancy
Hormone replacement (estrogen therapy)
Low calorie, liquid protein diet, prolonged fasting
High triglycerides
Rapid weight loss or obesity
Genetics
Aging
When does Cholecystitis move to symptomatic?
-Asymptomatic until common bile duct or cystic duct partially or completely obstructed
Where is the symptomatic pain of cholecystitis occur, and when is it exacerbated?
Sharp or vague RUQ pain radiating to right shoulder or scapula
-Pain exacerbated after eating high-fat foods (episodic biliary colic)
What are the gastrointestinal symptoms of cholecystitis?
N/V
-Anorexia
-abdominal fullness
-Dyspepsia
-belching
-flatulence
-clay-colored stools
-steatorrhea
-dark urine
What are the systemic symptoms of cholecysitis?
-Tachycardia,
-pallor
-diaphoresis
-Jaundice
How can older adults symptoms vary in cholecystitis?
Older adults may only experience localized tenderness or acute confusion
What lab values are indicative of cholecystitis?
↑ WBC
↑ Bilirubin
↑ Serum cholesterol
Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)
Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)
Alkaline phosphatase (ALP)
Amylase
Lipase
What are the diagnostic tests for cholecystitis?
RUQ ultrasound
Abdominal X-ray
Hepatobiliary scan (HIDA) NPO - also, a decreased bile flow means obstruction
What are the priority interventions for cholecystitis?
-Pain management with opioid analgesia (morphine or hydromorphone) preferred
-Pain management with Ketorolac (Toradol) and NSAIDs for mild discomfort
-Antispasmodics/anticholinergics: Dicyclomine (Bentyl)
-Anti-emetics
-Antibiotics (if suspected infection)
-Small, frequent meals
-Administration of fat-soluble vitamins and bile salts
When managing severe pain for cholecystitis, what should you look out for?
-May cause Sphincter of Oddi spasms
-Constipation, CNS depression, urinary retention
When managing mild pain for cholecystitis with Ketorolac (Toradol) and NSAIDs what should you look out for?
Be sure to monitor the patient for increased pain, tachycardia, and hypotension because the drug can cause GI bleeding
What are the criteria to make a patient with cholecystitis eligible for Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL)?
-Are of normal weight
-Have small, cholesterol-based stones
-Have good gall bladder function
-Are non-surgical candidates
How does Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy work?
-The patient lies on a water-filled pad, and shock waves break up the large stones into smaller ones that can be passed through the digestive system.
-requires analgesia for gallbladder spasms and movement of stones during procedure
-often requires several procedures to break up stones
What is a Cholecystectomy?
surgical procedure to remove gall bladder
What is the nursing priority action post Cholecystectomy?
After a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, assess the patient’s oxygen saturation level using pulse oximetry frequently until the effects of the anesthesia have passed.
Remind the patient to perform deep-breathing exercises every hour.
How often can activities be resumed for a laproscopic cholecystectomy?
How soon for an open cholecystectomy?
Laparoscopic: Activities resumed in approx. 1 week
Open: Activity precautions for 4 to 6 weeks before resuming normal activities
After a laproscopic cholecystectomy, where will the patient most likely experience pain?
May have pain under right clavicle, shoulder and scapula associated with CO2 instilled during procedure (relieved by ambulation)
Incision care (small incisions at umbilicus with possible additional small incisions around abdomen)
How long is the T-tube or JP drain left in after an open cholecystectomy?
T-Tube or JP drain left in 1-2 weeks post-operatively
What are the procedures for meals after an open cholecystectomy?
-Clamp T-tube 1 hour before and after meals to provide bile for food digestion
-Clear liquid diet advanced to solids as peristalsis returns
What GI symptoms are expected after an open cholecystectomy?
-Stool should return to brown within 1 week when biliary flow re-established
-Diarrhea is common
What are assessments that can indicate a complication after an open cholecystectomy?
-↑ in drainage (may be blocked bile duct)
-Bile peritonitis (pain, fever, jaundice)
-Biliary obstruction
(Ischemia, gangrene, and gall bladder rupture)
-Pruritis from accumulation of bile salts in skin
-Jaundice and icterus from accumulation of bilirubin
-Peritonitis from gall bladder rupture
-Pancreatitis from obstruction of pancreatic duct
Infection
-Bile peritonitis if bile is not adequately drained from surgical site (Pain, Fever, Jaundice)
What can indicate postcholecystectomy syndrome?
-A large intake of fatty foods may result in abdominal pain and diarrhea, which could result in a mild postcholecystectomy syndrome (PCS)
-If the patient experiences repeated abdominal or epigastric pain with vomiting and/or diarrhea even a few months after surgery, this is possible PCS
What is the pathology of pancreatitis?
a serious and at times life-threatening inflammation of the pancreas.
This inflammatory process is caused by a premature activation of excessive pancreatic enzymes that destroy ductal tissue and pancreatic cells, resulting in autodigestion and fibrosis of the pancreas.
What is the patient education for decreasing risks for cholecystitis?
-Consume a low-fat diet with small frequent meals
-Avoid dairy, fried foods, chocolate, nuts, gravies and gas-forming foods
-Introduce fatty foods one at a time into diet in small amounts
-Take fat-soluble vitamins or bile salts to enhance absorption and aid digestion
-Exercise regularly, Stop smoking, Manage weight
What is the difference between acute and chronic pancreatitis?
Acute: result of autodigestion
Chronic: progressive destruction of pancreas with calcification, fibrosis, and necrosis (periods of exacerbations & remissions) ↑ pancreatic insufficiency
If a patient is experiencing upper quadrant pain with grey stools this can indicate?
Chronic pancreatitis
What are the causes of pancreatitis?
-Biliary tract disease/cholelithiasis
-Penetrating gastric or duodenal ulcers
-ETOH misuse
-Autoimmune
-High intake of dietary fats
What are the symptoms of pancreatitis?
-Severe knife-like abdominal pain– mid-epigastric or LUQ & radiates to back, L flank, L shoulder exacerbated s/p eating or lying down
-Partial relief with fetal positioning or sitting
-N/V
-Jaundice
-Weight loss
-Hyperglycemia (3 P’s– polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia)
-Ascites
-Steatorrhea, clay-colored stools
-Dark urine
-S/s of hypovolemia (tachycardia, â UO, dry mucous membranes, dizziness)
What are the two signs that a patient might be experiencing hypocalcemia from pancreatitis?
Chvostek’s Sign
Trousseau’s Sign
What is Turner’s sign?
Discoloration of the left flank associated with acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis.
What is Cullen’s sign?
Superficial edema with bruising in the subcutaneous fatty tissue around the peri-umbilical region. This is also known as peri-umbilical ecchymosis. It is most often recognised as a result of haemorrhagic pancreatitis.
What are the increased lab values associated with pancreatitis?
Increased Amylase
Lipase
Bilirubin
Alkaline phosphatase
ALT & AST
WBC
ESR
Glucose
What do increased amylase levels mean in pancreatitis?
In patients with pancreatitis, amylase levels usually increase within 12 to 24 hours and remain elevated for 2 to 3 days.
Persistent elevations may be an indicator of duct obstruction or pancreatic duct leak
How long are lipase levels raised in pancreatitis?
Serum levels may rise later than amylase and remain elevated for up to 2 weeks
Why do we see decreased calcium and magnesium levels in pancreatitis?
Fatty acids combine with calcium, seen in fat necrosis
What are the diagnostic tests used to diagnose pancreatitis?
CT with contrast (gold standard)
Abdominal US
Abdominal X-Ray
What is one of the biggest safety priorities for a patient with acute pancreatitis?
For the patient with acute pancreatitis, monitor for significant changes in vital signs that may indicate the life-threatening complication of shock.
-Hypotension and tachycardia may result from pancreatic hemorrhage, excessive fluid volume shifting, or the toxic effects of abdominal sepsis from enzyme damage. Observe for changes in behavior and level of consciousness (LOC) that may be related to alcohol withdrawal, hypoxia, or impending sepsis with shock.
What are the priority nursing actions for a patient with pancreatitis?
Rest the pancreas (NPO until pain-free or TPN/Enteral nutrition for severe pancreatitis)
Anti-emetics/Analgesics
NG Tube (for severe vomiting or paralytic ileus)
Position pt for comfort
Monitor blood glucose & hydration status
Administer fluids/electrolytes as needed
After pain subsides and a patient is able to begin eating after being NPO for pancreatitis, what is the dietary recommendations?
Begin with clears and advance as tolerated to bland, low-fat, high protein PO diet with small, frequent meals
What are the medications associated with pancreatitis?
Pain: Morphine or hydromorphone
Antibiotics: Imipenem (necrotizing pancreatitis)
H2: Cimetidine
PPi: Omeprazole
Pancreatic Enzyme: Pancrelipase
What are the administration considerations for
Pancreatic Enzyme Pancrelipase?
-Contents can be sprinkled on foods
-Drink full glass of water following admin
-Wipe lips/rinse mouth after admin
-Take after antacid/H2
-Take with every meal or snack
-Contraindicated if someone can’t eat pork
What are the expected outcomes for successful treatment of pancreatitis?
Relief of abdominal pain
Able to tolerate PO foods without abdominal discomfort
Absence of N/V
Urinary output > 0.5 mL/kg/hr
Amylase, lipase, LFTs trending down
Absence of pancreatic complications
What are the complications associated with pancreatitis?
Hypovolemia
Pancreatic Infection
Type 1 Diabetes
Left lung effusion
Atelectasis
Coagulation defects
Multi-system organ failure
Why is hypovolemia a complication of pancreatitis?
Up to 6L of fluid can be third spaced because the retroperitoneal loss of protein-rich fluid from proteolytic digestion
This can put the patient into hypovolemic shock
What is the relation between hypovolemia, pleural effusion, pneumonia and ARDS in pancreatitis?
Pancreatic ascites results in failure to breath adequately
Splinting of chest due to pain upon coughing and breathing
How does pancreatitis cause DIC?
Release of thromboplastic endotoxins secondary to necrotizing hemorrhagic pancreatitis
This also can cause multisystem organ failure
What is appendicitis?
Acute inflammation of the vermiform appendix caused by the lumen becoming obstructed (can be caused by hard pieces of stool) and leading to infection, gangrene, perforation and sepsis.
What are the symptoms of appendicitis?
Initial: mild cramping, epigastric or periumbilical pain
Later: constant, intense RLQ abdominal pain
N/V, anorexia
Rebound tenderness over McBurney’s Point
Normal to low grade temperature
How does one tell the difference between the symptoms of appendicitis and gastroenteritis?
N/V before abdominal pain = gastroenteritis
Abdominal pain before N/V = appendicitis
Abdominal pain that increases with cough or movement and is relieved by bending the right hip or the knees in a patient with appendicitis suggests?
perforation and peritonitis
What are the first-do nursing priorities for appendicitis?
NPO
Morphine for pain management
Initiate IV fluids
Position in Semi-Fowler’s
Avoid laxatives or heat to site– can cause perforation
Prepare for surgery– assessment, labs, consents, IV access, abx, belongings, education
Monitor for potential perforation or peritonitis
Why do we look at the WBC counts for appendicitis?
What are the increased WBCs for appendicitis?
What about for peritonitis?
Laboratory findings do not establish the diagnosis, but often there is a moderate elevation of the white blood cell (WBC) count (leukocytosis) to 10,000 to 18,000/mm3 with a “shift to the left” (an increased number of immature WBCs). A WBC elevation to greater than 20,000/mm3 may indicate a perforated appendix.
What are some of the post operative nursing care priorities after an open appendectomy?
Strict I&O, monitor fluid & e-lyte status, hemodynamics
Irrigate peritoneal catheter with aseptic technique per order
Incision Care
Clear liquid diet advanced to solids as peristalsis returns