Week 9 Study Guide Flashcards
55 Chapter Terms
Liver
- Produces bile acids for digestion
- Processes medications, ETOH, and toxins (most important)
- Stores vitamins A, B12, D and ferritin
- Aids in carbohydrate metabolism, blood plasma proteins, protein metabolism
- Aging causes the liver to have less activity R/T decrease in number of liver cells and liver enzyme activity -> that causes slower or worse processing of medications, ETOH, and toxins; less bile acid for digestion; slower/worse metabolism of carbs and proteins
Lab Values/ Liver
- ALT, AST: increased levels indicate damage to the liver
- Albumin, pre-albumin: decreased levels indicate either damage to liver of lack of nutrition
- Bilirubin: increased levels indicate either damage to liver or breakdown of RBCs
- PT/PTT: liver makes clotting factors. Increased levels indicate liver damage or anticoagulant medication use
Pancreas
- Produces insulin and glucagon
- Produces pancreatic enzymes to aid digestion
Lab Values/ Pancreas
- Amylase, Lipase: pancreatic enzymes => elevated levels indicate pancreatitis
- Insulin, blood glucose: associated with blood sugar & cellular metabolism.
GI Assessment - History
- broad, general, open-ended questions followed by specific follow-up questions to obtain details
- social (smoking, ATOH, dietary practices), medical (known GI issues, medications), and surgical history
- Table55.2 PG. 1259
- Pain, vitals, and unintended weight changes
Abdominal Assessment - Inspection
- Inspect mouth and skin of abdomen for color, lesions, striae, scars, shape and contour
Abnormal findings:
- Teeth damage, bleeding, lesions on the mouth -> can indicate poor nutrition or oral cancer
- Bulging masses on abdomen -> can indicate tumors or hernias
- Bulging, PULSING, masses on abdomen -> can indicate an aortic aneurysm. DO NOT TOUCH, GET DOC QUICKLY
- YELLOW SKIN (jaundice) -> LIVER DISEASE/DAMAGE
- BLUE/PURPLE COLORING AROUND UMBILICUS (Cullen’s sign) -> intraabdominal bleeding
Abdominal Assessment - Auscultate
- Listen to all 4 quadrants
- Listen for several minutes before concluding “absent” bowel sounds
- Auscultate prior to percussion and palpation because that can impact bowel sounds, make them more active than they would otherwise be
Abnormal Findings:
- Hypoactive sounds: caused by opioids, anesthetics, anticholinergic meds, constipation
- Absent sounds: BIG PROBLEM. Indicate ileus or bowel obstruction
- Hyperactive sounds: caused by cholinergic medications, inflammatory bowel disorders
Abdominal Assessment - Percussion
- percuss abdomen in clockwise pattern
- Should have a sound called tympany - drumlike
- Liver and stomach will have dull sound
Abnormal findings:
- Dull sounds over intestinal tract: fecal matter, accumulation (ascites)
Abdominal Assessment - Palpation
- Palpate LIGHTLY
- Note any masses, tenderness, pain (do not palpate any pulsing masses)
- Deep palpation and hooking techniques is used to measure patient’s liver for hepatomegaly (DONE BY THE PROVIDER)
ABNORMAL FINDINGS:
-spleen should not be palpable. If it is, it will be in the LUQ*
-Liver shouldn’t be palpable on light palpation- if it is, it will extend past ribs on RUQ, RLQ
- Mass: can be a tumor, aneurysm, or hernia
- Right abdomen: pain, guarding, or peritonitis
Diagnostics / Barium Studies
- X- rays combined with barium, which is radiopaque
- Taking multiple x-rays allows us to watch the path of the barium through GI tract. *we can note any structural issues throughout (strictures of esophagus, ulceration in stomach, obstructions, polyps)
- We can also note the speed of movement in the GI tract
*Barium is a dry, white, chalky powder that is mixed with water
Diagnostics / CT Scans
-CTs with contrast use an iodine-based contrast medium *Contrast medium provides better visualization of the area
- Make sure you ask about IODINE, SEAFOOD & SHELLFISH because of potential cross-reactivity
*BUT there is not a high percentage of issues with iodine allergies.
Diagnostic / Endoscopy
- Putting the tube with a camera and equipment up/down the GI tract to visualize the area and do procedures
- Complications include: risk of perforation
*S&S of perforation: VS changes to HR and BP related to potential bleeding, high temp related to peritonitis, OBVIOUS RED BLOOD IN STOOLS, TARRU BLACK STOOLS - Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatograpy (ERCP) visualizes the pancreatic and bile ducts. CAN CAUSE PANCREATITIS IN ADDITION TO RISKS OF PERFORATION
CH. 56 Terms
Stomatitis
- Irritation and inflammation of the oral cavity
- Associated with chemotherapy and radiation for cancer *Can be caused by viral, bacterial, or fungal infections **Can be caused by irritants like alcohol, tobacco, alcohol containing mouthwash
- Presents as ulcerations and inflammation of the oral cavity
- Causes problems with nutrition and fluid status
- Nursing management: monitor I&O, weight, fluid & nutrition status, meds as ordered, keep lips and mouth moist, aspiration precautions if lidocaine is being used: raise head of bed, high protein food choices while discouraging salty, spicy, acidic, sharp-edged foods, mouth care after meals, no alcohol mouth wash, remove dentures, saline mouth rinse q4 hrs, high protein foods, avoid acidic spicy foods.
*PRIMARY: painful ulcers, herpes simplex, and traumatic ulcers
*SECONDARY: Viral, bacterial, or fungal