GI/GU Flashcards
(125 cards)
S+S
- Bloating
- Excess gas
- Constipation
- Diarrhoea
- Heart burn
- Nausea and vomiting
- Abdominal px
- Incontinence
- Weight loss
- Blood in stool
- Px
- Difficulty swallowing
- Changes in appetite
Abdo P- P generalised throughout abdomen
o Appendicitis
o Crohn’s disease
o Traumatic injury
o IBS
o UTI
o Flu
Abdo P- lower abdominal
o Appendicitis
o Intestinal obstruction
Abdo P- reproductive organs in females
o Ectopic pregnancy
o Dysmenorrhea (severe menstrual px)
o Ovarian cysts
o Miscarriage
o Fibroids
o Endometriosis
o Pelvic inflammatory disease
Abdo P- upper
o Gallstones
o Heart attack
o Hepatitis
o Pneumonia
Abdo P- centre
o Appendicitis
o Gastroenteritis
o Injury
o Uraemia (build-up of waste products in the blood)
Lower left abdominal P
o Crohn’s disease
o Cancer
o Kidney infection
o Ovarian cysts
o Appendicitis
Upper left abdomen P
o Enlarged spleen
o Faecal impaction (hardened stool that can’t be eliminated)
o Injury
o Kidney infection
o Heart attack
o Cancer
Lower right abdominal P
o Appendicitis
o Hernia
o Kidney infection
o Cancer
o Flu
Upper right abdominal P
o Hepatitis
o Injury
o Pneumonia
o Appendicitis
Generalised P
- Means that the pt feels it in more than half of their abdomen
- This type of px is typical for
o Stomach virus
o Indigestion
o Gas - If the px becomes more severe it can be caused by a blockage of the intestines
Localised P
- Px found in only one area of your belly
- More likely to be a sign of a problem in an organ
Crampy P
- Most of the time not serious
- Likely due to gas and bloating and is often followed by diarrhoea
- More worrisome signs include px that
o Occurs more often
o Lasts longer than 24 hours
o Occurs with a fever
Colicky P
- Px that comes in waves
- Often starts and ends suddenly
- Often severe
- Kidney stones and gallstones are common causes of this type of px
Sudden onset
- Occurs within a second
- Pt will relate the time of onset at a precise moment, usually stating exactly what activity was going on at the time the px began
- Commonly associated with
o Perforation of the gastrointestinal tract from a gastric or duodenal ulcer
o A colonic diverticulum
o Foreign body
o Ruptured eptopic pregnancy
o Mesenteric infraction
o Ruptured aortic aneurysm
o Embolism of an abdominal vessel
Rapid onset
- Begins with a few seconds and increases in severity over the next several minutes
- Pt will recall the time of onset in general but without the precision noted in px of sudden onset
- Associated with
o Cholecystitis
o Pancreitis
o Intestinal obstruction
o Diverticulitis
o Appendicitis
o Ureteral stone
o Penetrating gastric or duodenal ulcer
Gradual onset
- Px that comes on slowly and becomes more severe after a number of hours or even days have elapsed
- Pt memory as to the time of onset of the px is vague; they can only pinpoint the day or maybe the week of onset
- Generally associated with
o Neoplasms
o Chronic inflammatory processes
o Large bowel obstructions
Progression
- Its of real diagnostic significance to determine the progression of the px over the interval of the time of onset until the pt seeks medical attention
o Has the px abated or increases?
o Have there been intervals of total absence of the px or has the px always been present, changing only in character?
Associated features
- Symptoms that accompany abdominal px are important in making an accurate diagnosis
- Some of the most important symptoms are
o Nausea
o Vomiting
o Abdominal distention
o Diarrhoea
o Constipation
o Obstipation
o Tarry stools
o Chills
o Fever
o Urinating frequently
o Haematuria
o Jaundice
Gastroesophageal reflux disease
- Occurs when the acid from the stomach leaks up into the oesophagus
- Usually occurs as a result of lower esophageal sphincter weakness
GORD cause
Frequent acid reflux or non acidic content of stomach
- When you swallow, a circular band of muscle around the bottom of the oesophagus relaxes to allow food and liquid to flow into the stomach, the sphincter then closes again
- If the sphincter does not relax as it should or it weakens, stomach acid can flow back into the oesophagus
- This constant backwash of acid irritates the lining of the oesophagus, often causing it to become inflamed
GORD population
Young adults and teenagers
GORD risks
- Obesity
- Hiatal hernia
o Bulging of the top of the stomach up above the diaphragm - Pregnancy
- Connective tissue disorders, such as scleroderma
- Delayed stomach emptying
GORD aggravating factors
- Smoking
- Eating large meals or eating late at night
- Eating certain foods such as fatty or fried foods
- Drinking certain beverages, such as alcohol or coffee
- Taking certain medications, such as aspirin