GI emergencies

Question 1

Peritoneum

Answer 1

lining of the abdominal cavity; 2 layers: visceral (inner) and parietal (outer)

Question 2

visceral abdominal pain

Answer 2

involves the organ itself; less severe, poorly localized, dull, aching pain

Question 3

parietal pain

Answer 3

irritation of the peritoneal lining; more localized pain, sharp, severe

Question 4

referred pain

Answer 4

visceral pain that is felt somewhere else in the body, different from the organ where the problem is

Question 5

peritonitis

Answer 5

irritation or inflammation of the peritoneum, due to chemical substances leaking into paritoneal cavity; causes abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea; can do Markle test (stand on toes and then land hard on heels- will cause abdominal pain)

Question 6

appendicitis

Answer 6

inflammation of appendix which may lead to rupture if untreated; symptoms: abdominal pain, nausea/vomiting, positive Markle test/peritonitis

Question 7

pancreatitis

Answer 7

inflammation of pancreas

Question 8

cholecystitis

Answer 8

inflammation of the gall bladder, commonly associated with presence of gall stones; pain in right upper quadrant; 5 F’s for gall stones: female, fat, fair, forty, fertile

Question 9

esophageal varices

Answer 9

bulging or weakening of vessels in the lining of lower esophagus; often seen in alcoholics; symptoms: vomiting blood

Question 10

gastroenteritis

Answer 10

inflammation of small intestines and stomach; often due to infection; vomiting and diarrhea; need to treat dehydration

Question 11

bowel obstruction

Answer 11

can be in large or small intestines; must give treatment right away or could lead to sepsis or shock

Question 12

hernia

Answer 12

a portion of small intestine shifts outside the abdominal wall due to a lining weakness

Question 13

kidney stones

Answer 13

renal calculi, originate in kidneys and must pass through the rest of urinary tract

Question 14

kidney failure

Answer 14

acute KF is usually reversible; chronic KF patients require dialysis in order to filter out water and waste products from blood

Question 15

involuntary guarding

Answer 15

also called rigidity; patient’s abdominal muscles contract and tighten up

Question 16

thermoregulation

Answer 16

largely controlled by hypothalamus; metabolism generates heat, CNS can release hormones to increase metabolic rate; brain sets body’s thermostat; cardiovascular system can increase CO to cool body bc moves heated blood from core to extremities (vessels dilate) and heat is lost through the skin; to raise body temp, blood vessels constrict to conserve body heat

Question 17

cold emergencies

Answer 17

body will increase metabolic rate to generate heat; vasoconstriction to reduce heat loss; shivering

Question 18

management of hypothermia

Answer 18

reduce heat loss, start CPR until patient is rewarmed, ventilation, supplemental oxygen

Question 19

superficial frostbite

Answer 19

caused by freezing of water in upper skin layers, blisters, may appear blue

Question 20

deep frostbite

Answer 20

extends deep below the skin; skin is hard and white, eventually can turn black; place in hot water to rewarm; do not massage infected area or break blisters, give supplemental oxygen

Question 21

heat stroke

Answer 21

complete failure of thermoregulatory system; extreme core heat causes cell damage and AMS; hypotension, seizures