NR 511 Final Exam Study Guide: Abdominal and GI Disorders Questions and answers with 100% accuracy

Bowel Sounds

Audible noises from the intestines indicating activity.

Tachycardia

Increased heart rate often indicating pain intensity.

Tachypnea

Increased respiratory rate associated with abdominal pain.

Hypertension (HTN)

Elevated blood pressure linked to severe pain.

Rectal Evaluation

Assessment of rectal area in abdominal pain cases.

Genital Evaluation

Examination of genital area for potential issues.

Pelvic Evaluation

Assessment of pelvic organs in abdominal complaints.

Mesenteric Ischemia

Reduced blood flow to intestines causing pain.

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)

Enlargement of the aorta in the abdomen.

Visceral Pain

Dull, generalized pain from hollow organ issues.

Parietal Pain

Sharp, localized pain from peritoneum irritation.

Colicky Pain

Intermittent pain often due to gallstones or renal stones.

Burning Pain

Pain from gastric mucosa irritation, linked to ulcers.

Diarrhea

Increased stool frequency or fluid content.

Acute Diarrhea

Diarrhea lasting less than 2 weeks, often viral.

Chronic Diarrhea

Diarrhea lasting over 2 weeks, often due to IBS.

Dietary Fiber

Recommended 25-35 g daily for constipation management.

Mild exercise

Recommended post-morning meal for digestion.

Uninterrupted toilet time

Essential for morning bowel habits.

Adequate hydration

At least 64 ounces of fluids daily.

Bulk laxative

Fiber supplements like psyllium for constipation.

Ribbon-like stool

Indicates motility disorder or colon narrowing.

Decreased stool diameter

Suggests possible organic lesion.

Steatorrhea

Fatty stools indicating small bowel or pancreatic issues.

IBS

Irritable Bowel Syndrome causes alternating constipation and diarrhea.

Heartburn symptoms

Includes epigastric discomfort and nausea.

Differential diagnosis

Includes angina or myocardial infarction for heartburn.

Abdominal assessment techniques

Inspect, auscultate, percuss, palpate.

Appendicitis pain

Starts vague, localizes to RLQ within 12 hours.

McBurney's Point

RLQ tenderness indicative of appendicitis.

Rovsing's sign

Pain in RLQ when LLQ is palpated.

Obturator sign

Pain on internal rotation of the hip.

Psoas sign

Pain when extending the right leg.

CBC findings

High WBC count suggests appendicitis.

Gastroenteritis

Inflammation of stomach and intestine from pathogens.

Stool culture

Test for severe diarrhea and fever.

Ischemic colitis

Reduced blood flow to colon causing pain.

Rotavirus infection

Common cause of gastroenteritis in children.

Thumbprinting

Radiographic sign in ischemic colitis diagnosis.

Tenesmus

Feeling of needing to poop despite empty bowels.

Giardia Treatment

Tinidazole or metronidazole single dose antibiotic.

BRAT Diet

Diet for gastrointestinal distress: bananas, rice, applesauce, toast.

Zofran

Medication for nausea, used as needed (PRN).

Fluid Repletion

Restoring fluids lost due to diarrhea.

Loperamide

Imodium, used for diarrhea, limited to 1-2 days.

C. diff Testing

Test for Clostridium difficile before loperamide use.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

Includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

Ulcerative Colitis (UC)

Chronic inflammation of the colon with ulceration.

Crohn's Disease

Inflammation can occur anywhere in the GI tract.

IBD Symptoms

4 loose stools/day, cramps relieved by defecation.

Diagnosis of IBD

Correlate symptoms with history and physical exam.

Stool Analysis

Tests to rule out infections causing diarrhea.

Immunomodulators

Drugs like Azathioprine and methotrexate suppress immunity.

Anti-TNF Therapy

Includes infliximab and adalimumab for IBD treatment.

Diverticulitis

Inflammation of diverticular mucosa in the intestine.

Diverticulosis

Asymptomatic outpouchings in the intestine.

Diverticulitis Symptoms

LLQ pain, alternating diarrhea and constipation.

Leukocytosis

Elevated white blood cell count in diverticulitis.

CT Scan

Imaging used for diverticulitis diagnosis with contrast.

Management of Diverticulitis

High-fiber diet or clear liquid diet recommended.

Antibiotic Use

Not routinely used for acute diverticulitis.

GERD Symptoms

Burning chest sensation, sour taste, cough.

Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)

Test for unclear GERD diagnosis after PPI therapy.

Management

Includes PPI trial and lifestyle modifications.

PPI

Proton pump inhibitors like omeprazole for ulcers.

GERD

Gastroesophageal reflux disease causing heartburn.

Tetracyclines

Antibiotics that may worsen GERD symptoms.

Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD)

Includes gastric and duodenal ulcers.

Dyspepsia

Burning sensation in the epigastrium, often relieved by food.

Diagnosis of PUD

Fasting serum gastrin level and H. pylori test.

Management of PUD

Relieve pain, heal ulcers, prevent complications.

Vitamin B12 Absorption

Long-term PPI use decreases absorption.

H2 Receptor Antagonists

Medications like famotidine for ulcer treatment.

Bismuth Subsalicylate

May cause fecal discoloration.

Differential Diagnosis (DD)

Conditions like cholecystitis and gastric cancer.

Weight Loss and Anemia

Symptoms that may indicate gastric cancer.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Characterized by abdominal pain with altered bowel habits.

Rome IV Criteria

Diagnostic criteria for IBS symptoms.

Management of IBS

Focus on symptom management, no proven cure.

Stimulant Laxatives

Long-term use discouraged for constipation.

Prescription Medications for IBS-C

Linaclotide and plecanatide for constipation.

Antispasmodics

Medications like Bentyl for abdominal pain relief.

CT Scan with Contrast

Sensitive for diagnosing acute abdominal conditions.

Colonoscopy Indications

Used for evaluating gastrointestinal symptoms.

Acute cholecystitis

Inflammation of the gallbladder causing pain.

RUQ pain

Pain in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen.

Referred pain

Pain felt in a different area from its source.

Indigestion

Discomfort in the stomach after eating.

Iron deficiency anemia

Anemia due to insufficient iron levels.

Ferritin

Protein that stores iron in the body.

Total iron-binding capacity (TIBC)

Measure of iron transport capacity in blood.

Transferrin

Protein that binds and transports iron.

Anemia of chronic disease

Anemia linked to chronic inflammatory conditions.

Erythropoietin (EPO)

Hormone stimulating red blood cell production.

Pernicious anemia

Vitamin B12 deficiency due to intrinsic factor lack.

Folate deficiency anemia

Anemia caused by low folate levels.

Hemolytic anemia

Anemia from premature destruction of red blood cells.

Aplastic anemia

Bone marrow fails to produce sufficient red blood cells.

Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)

Average size of red blood cells.

Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH)

Average weight of hemoglobin per red blood cell.