Upper GI Flashcards
functions of the GI tract (4)
- breakdown of food for digestion
- absorption into the bloodstream of small nutrient molecules produced by digestion
- immunologic function (recognize pathogens)
- elimination of undigested unabsorbed foodstuffs and other waste products (bacterial content: normal flora)
3 main categories
1) alimentary: mouth to anus
2) accessory: enzymes and acids production breaks down lipids/proteins (salivary glands, pancreas, liver/gallbladder)
3) peritoneum: below diaphragm, serous membrane that lines/encloses the abdominal cavity, similar function as the plural cavity (lines abd., filled w/ fluid, reduces friction then we move around)
digestion
begins with the act of chewing, in which food is broken down into small particles that can be swallowed and mixed with digestive enzymes
absorption
- major function of the small intestine
- vitamins and minerals absorbed are essentially unchanged
- begins in jejunum and is accomplished by active transport and diffusion across intestinal wall into circulation
elimination
- phase of digestive process that occurs after digestion and absorption when waste products are eliminated from the body
gastric hormones and enzymes
- facilitate breakdown of food and subsequent uptake for nutrition
chyme
- mixture of undigested food and gastric acid (pH of about 1.5, lower than vinegar) that accumulates in stomach and is expelled into duodenum
- stomach lined with gastric acid to protect lining of stomach
assessment of the GI system (2)
1) health history: information about abdominal pain, dyspepsia, gas, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, fecal incontinence, jaundice, previous GI disease is obtained
2) pain: character, duration, pattern, frequency, location, distribution of referred abdominal pain, time of pain vary greatly depending on underlying cause
pain may be ____?
referred
- may radiate to other parts of the body
assessment: dyspepsia
most common sx. of patients with GI dysfunction
- belching, heart burn
assessment: intestinal gas
bloating, distention, or feeling “full on gas” with excessive flatulence as a symptom of food intolerance or gallbladder disease
assessment: nausea and vomiting
nausea is vague, uncomfortable sensation of sickness or “queasiness” that may or may not be followed by vomiting
assessment: bowel habits
- changes in bowel habits and stool characteristics
- may signal colonic dysfunction or disease
- constipation, diarrhea
- details to r/o other diseases (hemorrhoids)
assessment: past health, family, social history (5)
- oral care and dental visits
- lesions in mouth
- discomfort with certain foods (lactic intolerance, avoid spicy, alcohol, vape)
- use of alcohol and tobacco
- dentures
physical assessment
1) oral cavity (good baseline, surrogate for global health)
- lips, gums, tongue
2) abdominal assessment; four quadrant method
- IAPP
3) rectal inspection
- r/o bleeding, not slope RN
diagnostic tests GI
1) GI series X rays
2) endoscopic procedures
3) manometry and electrophysiologic studies
GI series XR
r/o worm bodies, free air
- multiple XRAYS of body
endoscopic procedures
- direct visuals with camera (2 types: mouth, anus)
- EGD (esophagogastroduodenoscopy): esophagus, stomach, first part duodenum
- colonoscopy: entire colon
- sigmoidoscopy, anoscopy, pcrotoscopy
- small bowel enteroscopy
- endoscopy through an ostomy
manometry and electrophysiologic studies
- assess speed/strength peristalsis
- outpatient
lab tests of GI assessment
- pancreas
- liver
- stool
- breath
- misc.
pancreas lab tests
- amylase
- lipase
liver lab tests
ALT, ALP, AST, GGT
- albumin: ammonia (protein) + blood urea nitrogen (excretion via kidney) -> metabolic by liver
- bilirubin: product RBC breakdown, if a lot = jaundice (can’t conjugate)
-main: concern about liver function
stool lab tests
- occult blood, parasites/bacteria (C.Diff) -> rectal exam
- cancer screening via stool card (stool smear)
breath lab tests
- urea breath test for helicobacter pylori (rare, usually measure in blood) -> serum antibodies
misc. lab tests
- CBC/CMP
- PT/INR
- PTT
- lipid levels
- lactic acid: arterial clot, tissue not getting perfused (decreased O2) -> anaerobic metabolism -> increase lactic acid
upper GI disorders (10)
- peridodontal disease
- jaw disorders
- salivary gland disorders
- oral cancer (radial neck dissections)
- dysphagia
- GERD (hiatal hernias, barret’s esophagus)
- gastritis
- PUD (peptic ulcer disease): gastric, duodenal
- GI bleeding
- gastric cancer
periodontal disease (most common cause, at risk, connected to)
1) most common cause of tooth loss in adults
- gingivitis: inflammation of the gums
- periodontitis: involves soft tissue and bone supporting the teeth
2) individuals at risk: older adult, current smokers, low income, less educated
3) connected to systemic disease: CV, DM, rheumatoid arthritis
periodontal disease - dental hygiene (dental plaque, treatment, prevention (5))
1) dental plaque: causes dental decay, caries
2) treatment for dental caries: treatment fillings, dental implants, extraction
3) prevention: routine dental care
- fluoride varnish/gel and fluroide toothpaste
- routine dental care and applying dental sealants
- community water fluoridation (goal for teeth)
- refrain from smoking and alcohol use
- less sugar and starch in diet, healthy snacks, brushing after meals
periodontal disease - dental abscess (what, s/sx, clinical manifestations)
1) abscessed tooth: cavity unchecked
2) presence of pus in the apical dental periosteum and tissue surrounding the apex
3) clinical manifestations: pain, cellulitis, facial edema (impair ability to breathe), fever, malaise
medical and nursing management
1) needle aspiration: drill opening to relieve pressure, pain, and promote drainage, extraction
2) assess for bleeding: instruct to use warm saline/water rinse, take antibiotic and analgesic
jaw disorders(6)
- temporomandibular disorders: jaw is joint, may become arthritic
- myofascial pain
- internal derangement of joint
- degenerative joint disease
- fracture (of bone)
- mandibular structural abnormalities
salivary gland disorders
- parotitis: inflammation of parotid gland
- sialadenitis: inflammation of the salivary glands
- sialolithiasis: salivary stones
- neoplasms: cancer
oral cancer (RF, increased in, location)
1) RF (risk factors)
- tobacco use, including smokeless tobacco (vape)
- alcohol
- infection with human papilloma virus prevention
- history of head and neck cancer
2) increased incidence in men twice as often as women
3) may occur in any area, but lips, lateral tongue, and floor of the mouth are most frequently affected
- spreads quickly d/t vascular
- not many sx. early on
oral cancer - manifestations (early (3), late (4)
1) early stage
- few or no symptoms in early stage
- painless sore or mass that does not heal; indurated ulcer with raised edges
- may bleed easily and present with red or white patch
2) later manifestations include:
- complaints of tenderness (no oral)
- difficulty in chewing, swallowing, or speaking
- coughing up blood tinged sputum
- enlarged cervical lymph nodes
oral cancer - assessment (2) and mgmt (3)
1) assessment
- health history: include symptoms related to oral problems, oral hygiene, and dental care, use of tobacco, alcohol, and eating and nutrition
- inspect and palpate the structures of the mouth and neck (always palpate laterally, one at a time)
2) medical management
- surgical resection: radical neck dissection
- radiation therapy: clean margins, cancer eradicated
- chemotherapy
oral cancer - radial neck dissection (what, nursing interventions)
1) removes of all cervical lymph nodes from the mandible to the clavicle and removal of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, internal jugular vein, and spinal accessory muscle on one side of the neck
2) nursing interventions post post neck dissection:
- maintaining airway clearance
- manage pain
- wound care
- managing enteral nutrition (peg tube, quality of life decisions, palliative care)
nursing mgmt. for disorders of the oral cavity (6)
- promote oral care (good hygiene - reduce pneumonia)
- facilitate adequate nutrition
- minimize pain (avoid hot, spicy, hard foods, oral care, vicious lidocaine or other pain medications)
- prevent infections (assess for signs and symptoms of infections, appropriate wound and skin care)
- patient education (how to manage dressings)
- support positive self image