Week 7 Flashcards
What is the pathophysiology of a bowel obstruction?
A blockage prevents the content of the intestine from passing normally through the digestive tract. The cause of this can be inside or outside the intestine
What are some of the causes of a bowel obstruction inside the intestine?
A tumor or swelling
What are some of the causes of a bowel obstruction outside the intestine?
The adjacent organs or area of tissue to pinch, compress or twist a segment of the bowel
Where does a bowel obstruction occur?
In the small or large bowel
A bowel obstruction can be total or partial. What determines what type of obstruction present?
It depends on whether any intestinal content can pass through the obstructed area
What does the obstruction of the small intestine present with?
Cholic, abdominal pain and vomiting.
What does the obstruction of the large intestine present with?
Distention and absolute constipation
What are the common causes and risk factors of a small bowel obstruction?
- Adhesions: bands of scar tissue that may form after abdominal or pelvic surgery
- Hernias caused by a breakthrough of the weakened abdominal wall (2nd most common cause of an obstruction in the USA)
- Inflammatory diseases(chromes disease or a fistula)
- Tumors (rare, usually spreads to the small bowel from the colon, reproductive organs, breast, lungs or skin)
____ is the leading risk factor for small bowel obstruction in the USA
Earlier abdominal surgery is the leading risk factor for small bowel obstruction in the USA
What are the signs and symptoms of a small bowel obstruction?
- Cramping and abdominal pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- No gas passing through the
rectum - Abdominal bloating or tenderness
- Rapid pulse and rapid breathing
- Upper epigastric distension
- Constipation
- Lack of appetite
What is constant abdominal pain a sign of?
Maybe a sign os bowel strangulation
__ is the most common cause of a large bowel obstruction in the USA
Adhrsions is the most common cause of a large bowel obstruction in the USA/developed countries
____ is the most common cause of obstruction
Adenocarcinoma of the colon is the most common cause of obstruction
About half of all large bowel obstructions are caused by ____
About half of all large bowel obstructions are caused by colorectal cancer
How does undiagnosed colon or rectal cancer cause large bowel obstruction?
It may cause a gradual narrowing of the large intestines in our passageway.
Before the large bowel becomes obstructed, what does the pt feel?
Intermittent constipation
What is volvolus?
An abdominal twisting of a segment of the bowel around itself. This typically produces a closed loop bowel with a pinched bowel, which leads to a bowel obstruction
In what population is a volvolus most common?
People over 65, in western countries, often with a history of chronic constipation
What are the common causes of large bowel obstruction?
- Colorectal cancer
- Volvolus
- Diverticular disease
What is a colonstricture?
A scar that encircles the colon, which narrows the intestine gradually as it ages, which will eventually cause a closed colon
What are the signs and symptoms of large bowel obstruction?
- Lower abdominal bloating/distension - Lower abdominal cramping and pain, which can be vague and mild, or sharp and severe depending on the cause - Constipation - Diarrhea - Possible rectal bleeding
What are the red flags for immediate medical referral in a pt with a possible large bowel obstruction?
- Intense and/or constant abdominal pain
- Vomiting
- Bloating
- Blood in the stool
What are the checklist items that must be screened when there is a suspicion of a GI system abnormality?
• Nausea • Vomiting • Swallowing difficulties • Indigestion, heartburn • Food intolerance • Bowel dysfunction – Color of stool – Shape, caliber of stool – Constipation – Diarrhea – Difficulty initiating – Incontinence
What are swallowing difficulties/dysphagia typically a result of?
A loss of coordinated local muscle activity or a mechanical obstructive disorder
What are the disorders that can result in muscle incoordination, resulting in swallowing difficulties/dysphagia?
- Myasthenia gravis
- Multiple sclerosis
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- Parkinson’s disease
What are the disorders that can result in a mechanical obstruction, resulting in swallowing difficulties/dysphagia?
• Tumors • Thyroid goiter • Osteophytes of the cervical spine • Aortic aneurysm
What is the onset, progression, ability to swallow solid food/liquids, ability to swallow cold substances, and bolus passage of dysphagia caused by motor incoordination?
• Onset: Gradual onset
• Progression: Slow
• Swallowing solid foods vs. liquids: Equal difficulty
• Swallowing cold substances: Worsening of swallowing
difficulties
• Bolus passage: Facilitated by repeated swallowing. Valsalva
maneuver, throwing back head and shoulders
What is the onset, progression, ability to swallow solid food/liquids, ability to swallow cold substances, and bolus passage of dysphagia caused by mechanical obstruction?
- Onset: Faster onset
- Progression: Faster
- Swallowing solid foods vs. liquids: More difficulty swallowing solids
- Swallowing cold substances: Swallowing difficulties not affected by temperature
- Bolus passage: Can be accompanied by regurgitation
What are the symptoms that fall under the category of dyspepsia/heartburn?
Indigestion, and Heartburn
The use of what type of drugs has been associated with dyspepsia/heartburn?
NSAIDs
In what part of the body does a pt with dyspepsia/heartburn feel their symptoms?
Retrosternally in the epigastric region
What are the questions to ask a pt, when there is a suspicion for dyspepsia/heartburn?
- How long have you had these symptoms?
- Do you know what is causing them?
- Are they constant or intermittent?
- How are you treating the symptoms?
- Are there any associated symptoms such as fatigue, weakness or shortness of breath