Care of Patients with Gallbladder, Liver, Biliary Tract, or Exocrine Pancreatic Disorder

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary and concepts related to the care of patients with disorders affecting the gallbladder, liver, biliary tract, or exocrine pancreas.

Cirrhosis of the liver

A degenerative disease of the liver where lobes are covered with fibrous tissue and lobules are infiltrated with fat.

Jaundice

Discoloration of body tissues caused by abnormally high levels of bilirubin in the blood.

Cholecystitis

Inflammation of the gallbladder, which can be caused by an obstruction, gallstone, or tumor.

Cholelithiasis

Presence of gallstones in the gallbladder.

Hepatitis

Inflammation of the liver caused by viruses, bacteria, or non-infectious causes such as alcohol ingestion.

Ascites

Accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity, often associated with cirrhosis.

Pancreatitis

Inflammatory condition of the pancreas that can be acute or chronic and commonly caused by alcohol ingestion or biliary disease.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy

A minimally invasive surgical procedure to remove the gallbladder.

MRCP

Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography, a non-invasive imaging procedure for the biliary system.

ERCP

Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography, a minimally invasive therapeutic endoscopic procedure.

Viral Hepatitis Types

Includes Hepatitis A, B, C, D, E, and G, each with different modes of transmission.

Liver abscess

A walled-off area of infection within the liver, which can be fatal if untreated.

Esophageal varices

Enlarged veins in the esophagus that can bleed, often seen in cirrhosis.

HIDA scan

A nuclear imaging technique used to evaluate the function of the liver, gallbladder, and biliary tract.

Serum Lipase

An enzyme test that helps diagnose pancreatitis.

Liver transplantation

A surgical procedure to replace a diseased liver with a healthy liver from a donor.