HOSA Pathophysiology Digestive System

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

-Regurgitation of stomach and duodenal contents into the esophagus

-S&S- belching with burning sensation in chest and mouth; dysphagia; eroded tooth enamel

~Overeating, pregnancy, or weight; relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter; increase in intraabdominal pressure

-Treatment: proton pump inhibitor

Esophageal Varices

-Dilated submucosal veins that develop in patients w/ underlying portal hypertension

-S&S- superficial veins lining the esophagus become dilated and twitsted at the distal end; with rupture hematemesis(vomiting of blood); melena (dark, tarry stools stained with digested blood); hypovolemic shock (blood in the circulatory system is decreased)

~increased pressure within the veins causes varices; pressure occurs when the venous return to the liver is impeded

Esophagitis

-Inflammation and tissue injury of the esophagus

-S&S: burning chest pain (heartburn); hematemesis

~reflux (backward flow) of the acid contents of the stomach resulting from a defect of the lower esophageal sphincter; GI manifestation of HIV infection

Esophageal Cancer

-Malignancy of the esophagus (squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma)

-dysphagia, weight loss, burning sensation

~SCC- cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption

-Adenocarcinoma- smoking, obesity

Gastric and Duodenal Peptic Ulcers

-Ulcers of stomach-gastric; Ulcers of duodenum- duodenal

-S&S- Gastric: nausea; vomiting; abdominal pain. Duodenal: nausea; vomiting; heartburn

~H. Pylori infection; use NSAIDs; ingestion of gastric irritants

Gastritis

-Inflammation of the stomach lining

-S&S- Hematemesis; indigestion; epigastric pain

~Irritants such as aspirin; poisons; alcohol; tobacco

Gastric Cancer

-Cancer of the stomach

-S&S- hematemesis; dysphagia; melena; nausea

~H. Pylori- smoking; genetic predisposition; dietary factors (e.g diet high in salt)

Acute Appendicitis

-Inflammation of the appendix

-S&S- nausea, vomiting, and fever

~As bacteria multiply, they invade the wall of the appendix, ad eventually the circulation of the appendix is compromised

Hiatal Hernia

-Protrusion of part of the stomach through the diaphragm at the point where the esophagus joins the stomach

-S&S- Heartburn; chest pain; dysphagia; indigestion

~Congenital defect in the diaphragm; weakness in diaphragm

Abdominal Hernia

-Condition in which an organ protrudes through an abnormal opening of the abdominal wall

-S&S- sharp pain in groin (inguinal hernia); gangrene (trapped or strangulated hernia)

~Congenital malformation in abdominal cavity; pregnancy; trauma

Crohn's Disease (Regional Enteritis)

-Chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract (any portion from mouth to anus can be affected)

-S&S- chronic diarrhea; weight loss; malaise; nausea; anorexia; fever

~Immunologic factors play a role

Ulcerative Colitis

-Serious inflammation of the colon

-S&S- chronic diarrhea; abdominal cramping; urgency to defecate; mucoid stools; tenesmus

~Unknown cause

Gastroenteritis

-Inflammation of the stomach and intestines

-S&S- increased intestinal motility; body may lose fluids too rapidly causing dehydration

~Contaminated food or water; ingestion of the poison in certain food or chemicals

Intestinal Obstruction

-Mechanical or functional blockage of the intestines

-S&S- Severe pain; nausea; vomiting; electrolyte imbalance

~Occurs when the contents of the intestine cannot move forward because of partial/complete blockage of the bowel; mechanical: neoplasm; foreign bodies; volvulus (twisting of the bowel on itself); intussusception (the bowel telescopes into itself); strangulated hernia

Diverticulosis

-Progressive condition characterized by defects in the muscular wall of the large bowel

-S&S- usually causes no symptoms; blood in stool; diarrhea; difficulty in defecation

~Lack of roughage; outpouches (diverticula) of the mucosa penetrate weak points in the muscular layer of the large intestine

Diverticulitis

-Infection of one or more of the diverticula

-S&S- Abdominal pain or tenderness

~When one or more of the diverticula become inflamed due to to trapped fecal matter; lack of dietary bulk, inadequate fluid intake, and constipation

Colorectal Cancer

-Cancer of the colon and rectum

-S&S- Abdominal pain, change in bowel habits; bloody stools; weight loss; cachexia (wasting disorder linked with malnutrition); lymphadenopathy (disease of the lymph nodes)

~Risk increases with age; adenomatous polyps

Pseudomembranous Enterocolitis

-Bowel mucosa has a membranous appearance

-S&S-mild to severe greenish, foul smelling watery diarrhea; nausea; vomiting

~use of broad spectrum antibiotics; antibiotic therapy reduces the body's natural intestinal flora and allows a bacterial infection with C. difficile to develop

Short-Bowel Syndrome

-Small bowel fails to absorb nutrients because of inadequate absorptive surface

-S&S- malnutrition; diarrhea; abnormal stools; brittle nails and hair

~Length of intact or functioning small bowel is altered significantly by disease or surgery; Chron's diesease; intestinal farction; volvulus; tumor resection

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

-Functional bowel disorder of motility: chronic abdominal pain or discomfort; bloating; erratic dysfunction of bowel habits

-S&S- change of bowel habits with predominant diarrhea or constipation; bloating; abdominal distention

~Unknown cause

Peritonitis

-Inflammation of the peritoneum

-S&S- abdominal pain; nausea; vomiting; weakness; profuse sweating

~inflammatory process of peritonitis has the potential to cause abscesses and adhesions to form in the abdominal cavity; primary infection caused by blood borne organisms

Hemorrhoids

-Varicose dilations of a vein in the anal canal or the anorectal area

-Often painless; rectal pain; itching; protrusion; or bleeding after defecation

~Veins in rectal and anal area become varicose, swollen, and tender as a result of blockage

Cirrhosis of the Liver

-Slow deterioration of the liver due to replacement of normal liver cells with hard fibrous scar tissue

-S&S- loss of appetite and weight; nausea and vomiting; indigestion

~Chronic alcoholism; malnutrition; hepatitis

Viral Hepatitis

-Inflammation of the liver

-S&S- jaundice;anorexia; malaise; fever nausea; dark urine

Hepatitis A

-Infectious hepatitis; highly contagious

~transmitted by fecal-oral route from contaminated food, water, and stools

Hepatitis B

-Serum hepatitis

-S&S- can mimic flu

~Sexual contact or blood exchange from the sharing of contaminated needles

Hepatitis C

-Transmitted mainly through blood transfusions (by blood and body fluids)

~Working in health care environment is a risk factor

Cancer of the Liver (Hepatocarcinoma)

-Liver cancer

-S&S- upper abdominal pain; weight loss; jaundice

~Hepatitis B

Cholelithiasis

-Abnormal presence of gallstones that form in bile

-S&S- Nausea and vomiting

~Insoluble cholesterol and bile salts

Cholecystitis

-Inflammation of the gallbladder

-S&S- nausea; vomiting; fever; jaundice; dark urine

~Obstruction of the biliary duct caused by gallstones; trauma or insult including infection

Acute and Chronic Pacreatitis

-Inflammation of the pancreas

-S&S- severe abdominal pain; nausea; vomiting; patient is diaphoretic (profuse perspiration) and tachyycardiac (rapid heartbeat); mild jaundice

~Protein- and lipid-digesting enzymes become activated within the pancreas and begin to digest the pancreas itself (autodigestion)

Pancreatic Cancer

-Cancer of the pancreas

-S&S- abdominal pain; weight loss; jaundice; nausea; vomiting; acholic (without bile) stools

~Cigarette smoking; obesity

Malnutrition

-Disorder of nutrition caused by primary deprivation of protein-energy

-Loss of energy; diarrhea; drastic weight change; loss of hair; poor nails

~Kwashiorkor: deficiency of protein in the presence of adequate energy; Marasmus: extreme malnutrition and emaciation

Malabsorption Syndrome

-Group of disorders in which intestinal absorption of dietary nutrients is impaired

-S&S- abdominal discomfort; bloating with gas; chronic diarrhea

~Defective mucosla stools in the small intestine

Celiac Disease (Gluten Enteropathy)

-Disease of SI characterized by malabsorption, gluten intolerance, ad damage to the lining of the intestine

-S&S- weight loss; anorexia; diarrhea; flatulence (gas)

Food Poisoning

-Illness that results from eating food that contains bacterial toxins and viral, chemical, or toxic substances

-S&S- malaise; fever; nausea; vomiting

~Food contaminated with bacteria or toxins

Anorexia Nervosa

-Eating disorder hunger is denied by self- imposed starvation

-S&S- sadness; insomnia; thinning hair; cold intolerance; bloating

~Unknown

Bulimia

-Binge eating followed by self induced vomiting or purging

-S&S- compulsive exercise; vomiting; broken blood vessels in the eye

~Uncertain

Motion Sickness

-Loss of equilibrium experience during motion

-S&S- nausea, vomiting, air hunger, excessive salivation, sweating

~Disturbance in the sense of balance; fluid in the semicircular canals of the ears becomes dislocated because of the motion