Medical Screening: Gastrointestinal and Urogenital Systems

Flashcards reviewing key concepts from a lecture on medical screening of the gastrointestinal (GI) and urogenital (UG) systems.

What is the objective upon completion of this segment regarding medical screening?

To develop, create, and review systems checklists for the GI and UG organ systems, and know what to do when a patient answers affirmatively to an item on the checklist.

According to the lecture, what are the two primary principles that would make you pull out a more detailed checklist to screen above and beyond what the general health checklist provides?

Pain location and a history of gastrointestinal problems.

According to the lecture, what are potential locations of pain originating from gastrointestinal issues?

Throat, cervical, chest, abdominal, interscapular, mid-lower thoracic, lumbar, and pelvic regions.

What are some gastrointestinal conditions for which a detailed checklist can help establish a baseline of symptoms?

Peptic ulcer disease, acid reflux, stomach cancer, gallbladder disease, irritable bowel disease, and colon cancer.

According to the lecture, what are the items included in the checklist for the upper GI system?

Swallowing difficulties, indigestion, heartburn, food intolerance, and color of stools.

What conditions are often associated with dysphagia (swallowing difficulties)?

Local muscle function, mechanical obstructive disorder (Parkinson's, ALS, thyroid tumors, cervical osteophytes, aortic aneurysm).

If a patient notes indigestion or heartburn and mentions taking medication for it (e.g., Zantac), what follow-up questions should you ask?

How often are you taking the medication? What's your dose? Have you increased the dose in the last 2-6 weeks?

According to the lecture, regarding food intolerance, what type of food can flare up gallbladder disease?

Ingestion of fatty foods.

What is melena and what does it suggest?

Black, tarry stools indicating an upper GI bleed.

According to the lecture, what stool color is associated to liver dysfunction?

Light gray or pale stools, which can be associated with obstructive jaundice.

What does the checklist for the lower GI system involve?

Color of stools, shape/caliber of stools, constipation, diarrhea, and difficulty initiating/incontinence.

What describes a healthy colon (referring to the shape and caliber of stools)?

Wide open lumen of colon.

How is constipation defined in the lecture?

Rock hard stools that are difficult or painful to push out.

What are the additional questions to ask regarding diarrhea and the concern of dehydration?

Excessive thirst, dry mouth, rapid breathing, postural hypotension, and change in mentation (confusion, lethargy).

What structures of the urogenital system are likely to cause back pain versus belly pain?

Kidney structures that are retroperitoneal.

What conditions of the urogenital system would warrant pulling the checklist to give you baseline information?

Renal failure, kidney stones, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and urinary incontinence treatment.

When inquiring about urine color, what is the recommended way to phrase the question?

Any unusual color of urine, such as red, dark brown, tea colored.

Dark brown or tea-colored urine can be associated with what conditions?

Liver or biliary disease, or acute exertional rhabdomyolysis.

What is meant by urinary frequency?

Increased frequency of urination, often at night (nocturia).

What is urinary urgency?

An intense and immediate sensation of needing to get to the bathroom quickly.

According to the lecture, difficulty initiating urine stream, urinary retention, and reduced caliber or force of urine stream can be associated with what conditions?

Prostate cancer, cauda equina syndrome, and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

What can be inferred about painful urination (dysuria), if the patient says they have it?

Infection, inflammation.

For males, what reproductive functions are screened?

Urethral discharge, sexual dysfunction (spinal cord injury, herniated disc, cauda equina syndrome), post-operative effects (prostate/colon surgery), medication side effects, and psychogenic disorders.

For women experiencing pain with intercourse, what distinction can help decide whether to refer to a physical therapist or a physician?

Pain with initial insertion (pelvic floor dysfunction) vs. pain on deep penetration (deep internal organ condition, e.g., endometriosis).

What menstrual-related factors are important to consider in the urogenital system screening for women?

Frequency of periods, length of cycle (less than 21 days or greater than 36 days is abnormal), pain associated with the period, and blood flow lasting greater than seven days.

Which finding best suggests an upper gastrointestinal disorder: melena, hematochezia, dysuria, or constipation?

Melena (black, tarry stools), suggests an upper GI bleed.

The pain associated with GI and urogenital systems disorders is typically what nature?

Non-mechanical, meaning the pain does not change regardless of the patient's position, posture, or movements.