Final Exam Concept Review Pathophysiology.Gastrointestinal Chapter 17
Hiatal Hernia: causes, Signs and Symptoms
Patho: protrusion or herniation of
... [Show More] the upper stomach through the diaphragm
Causes: short esophagus, trauma, weak muscles, increased abdominal pressure
Signs/symptoms: heartburn or pyrosis, frequent belching, increased discomfort when
lying down, substernal pain that may radiate to shoulder and jaw
Gastritis: Acute vs. Chronic, Signs and Symptoms
Acute: caused by injury to mucosal lining by microorganisms (e-coli), allergies, alcohol,
aspirin, corrosive substances, radiation or chemo, increase risk of cancer
Chronic: H-pylori, NSAIDS, alcohol, tobacco
S/S: anorexia, nausea, vomiting, hematemesis (vomiting of blood), abdominal pain
Peptic Ulcer Disease: Cause, Signs and Symptoms, location
Duodunal pectic ulcer is the most common due to high acid and inflammation from
bacteria
Gastric peptic ulcer
Location: duodenum (#1 place), lower esophagus, stomach
Causes: H.Pylori, NSAIDS, Zollinger Ellison Syndrome, stress, smoking
S/S: pain (specific for each type of ulcer), nausea, vomiting, weight loss
Cholelithiasis: gallstone formation, which are masses of solid material or calculi that form in the
bile.
Causes: obstruction or inflammation, fat, fertile, forty, female, native American ancestry
S/S: asymptomatic, idiopathic
Types: cholesterol and pigmented
Cholecystitis – inflammation of the gallbladder
Hepatitis:
Hepatitis A:
found in feces and bile
Hepatitis B:
Transmitted through infected blood, bodily fluids
Hepatitis C: (most deadly)
Post transfusion, IV drug use (most common in hospital settings), liver cancer
S/S: 3 stages: 1) preicteric or prodromal stage 2) icteric or jaundice stage 3) posticteric or
recovery stage `
Preicteric or prodromal stage: (2 weeks after exposure): may be idiopathic,
fatigue, malaise, anorexia, nausea, general muscle aching, fever, headache, mild
abdominal discomfort
Icteric or jaundice stage: stool becomes light in color, urine becomes darker, skin
becomes pruritic
Posticteric or recovery stage: reduction of signs and symptoms
Hepatic Encephalopathy:
Causes: loss of brain function when a damaged liver doesn’t remove toxins from the body
S/S: forgetfulness, musty odor breath, shaking of the hands, slurred speech, round belly
Diagnosis: blood test for abnormalities with liver and kidney functions, medication is
given to remove the ammonia.
Cirrhosis:
Irreversible, inflammatory liver disease. Decreased blood supply to liver leads to liver
disease complications, atrophy, necrosis, and eventual failure
Cause: alcohol and hepatitis
S/S: inflammation, destruction, and scar tissue growth of liver, fatigue, anorexia, weight
loss, anemia, diarrhea, ascites(fluid build-up in the peritoneal cavity), peripheral edema,
jaundice
Complications: frequent infections, respiratory or skin infections, death, esophageal
varices
Esophageal varices:
Abnormal veins in lower part of the tube running from the throat to the stomach
(esophagus)
Causes: Usually develops when blood flow to the liver is blocked, also occurs with
advanced liver disease.
S/S: Sometimes no symptoms, but vomiting blood, tar-like or bloody stool, and shock
Complications: liver failure, bleeding, shock, death
Crohn’s disease:
Unknown cause
Recurrent inflammation of small and large intestine
S/S: non-bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain, malabsorption, steatorrhea (fatty diarrhea),
malnutrition, weight loss, pallor
Ulcers are throughout the intestines
Ulcerative Colitis:
S/S: abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, tenesmus (spasm of rectum), fever, weight loss
Starts at the rectum and goes up
Small intestine is not involved unless it turns into Crohn’s
Obstruction of rectum interferes with absorption and electrolytes
Appendicitis:
Causes: inflammation of the appendix, obstruction, ischemia, increased intraluminal
pressure, infection, ulceration
S/S: Epigastric pain, RLQ pain, Rebound tenderness around belly button, fever
Intestinal Obstruction:
S/S: Crampy pain followed by vomiting and distension, dehydration, hypovolemia,
ischemia and necrosis
Complications: Tissue death, infections
Cause: constipation, surgery, stress, poor muscle movement
Gastric Cancer:
Diet is a key factor, smoked foods, nitrites and nitrates, and genetic influence
S/S: dark stool from blood, no appetite, vomiting, nausea, asymptomatic
Pancreatitis:
Inflammation of the pancreas
Causes: gallstone, large amount of alcohol
Acute: bile tract disease and alcohol, usually mild and self-limiting. Obstruction
of bile duct causes enzymes to collect in pancreas. Enzymes activated causes
inflammation. Can get septic ischemia
Complication: adult respiratory distress syndrome and acute renal failure
S/S: constant epigastric and abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting
Chronic: Irreversible structural and function changes to pancreas.
S/S: intermittent pain, weight loss, malabsorption
Gastroesophageal reflux (acid reflux) GERD:
Patho: The regurgitation of reflux of chyme within 1-2 hours after eating
Causes:
Weakened LES, increased abdominal pressure, weak esophageal peristalsis,
hernia or ulcer
Treatment: avoid spicy foods, antacids, medication
S/S: belching and heartburn
Renal
Functions of the Kidney
A WET BED:
Acid-base balance
Water removal
Erythropoiesis (production of RBC)
Toxin removal
Blood pressure control
Electrolyte balance
Vitamin D activation
Pyelonephritis: – infection of ureter, renal pelvis, medulla, and cortex
Causes, signs and symptoms
Causes: One or both kidneys involved. From ureter to kidneys
S/S: DUll, aching pain in lower back, high temperature, dysuria
infection of ureter, renal pelvis, medulla, and cortex
o Causes:
Kidney stones, reflux, trauma
o Acute pyelonephritis
Associated with obstructions or reflux
Inflammation of structures
Kidneys become infiltrated with WBC’s
o Chronic pyelonephritis
Recurring episodes of acute pyelonephritis or chronic obstructions
Cause progressive inflammation, destruction, and scarring
Will eventually lead to kidney failure
o Clinical manifestations: dysuria, flank pain, urinary casts
Cystitis:
Causes: bladder wall (cystitis) and urethra (urethritis) are inflamed
Hyperactive bladder and reduced capacity
Causative Organism: Escherichia Coli
More common in women than men
S/S: Dysuria, urgency, frequency, urine is cloudy and unusual odor, fever, malaise,
nausea, nocturia
Renal Calculi:
Causes: Kidney stones, urolithiasis (The process of forming stones in the kidney,); form
from high levels of calcium in urine (hypercalcemia)
S/S: back pain, cool moist skin, rapid pulse, frequently asymptomatic
Complications: hydronephrosis (scar tissue untreated)
Glomerulonephritis
Start as upper respiratory infection, middle ear and strep throat from streptococcus
leading to kidneys
s/s: dark, cloudy urine, facial edema, increased BP, back pain, nausea, anorexia, fatigue,
headache [Show Less]