Digestive & Gastrointestinal System Disorders: NCLEX Quiz

Gastritis is an inflammation of the gastric mucosa that may be acute (often resulting from exposure to local irritants) or chronic (associated with autoimmune infections or atrophic disorders of the stomach). Erosion of the mucosa results in ulceration. Inflammation of a diverticulum is called diverticulitis; reflux of stomach acid is known as gastroesophageal disease.

NSAIDS are a common cause of gastritis because they inhibit prostaglandin synthesis. Milk. once thought to help gastritis. has little effect on the stomach mucosa. Bicarbonate of soda. or baking soda. may be used to neutralize stomach acid. but it should be used cautiously because it may lead to metabolic acidosis. ASA with enteric coating shouldn’t contribute significantly to gastritis because the coating limits the aspirin’s effect on the gastric mucosa.

A fecalith is a fecal calculus. or stone. that occludes the lumen of the appendix and is the most common cause of appendicitis. Bowel wall swelling. kinking of the appendix. and external occlusion. not internal occlusion. of the bowel by adhesions can also be causes of appendicitis.

The focus of care is to assess for peritonitis. or inflammation of the peritoneal cavity. Peritonitis is most commonly caused by appendix rupture and invasion of bacteria. which could be lethal. The client with appendicitis will have pain that should be controlled with analgesia. The nurse should discourage oral intake in preparation for surgery. Discharge teaching is important; however. in the acute phase. management should focus on minimizing perioperative complications and recognizing when such may be occurring.

Low-fiber diets have been implicated in the development of diverticula because these diets decrease the bulk in the stool and predispose the person to the development of constipation. A high-fiber diet is recommended to help prevent diverticulosis. A high-protein or low-carbohydrate diet has no effect on the development of diverticulosis.

Undigested food can block the diverticulum. decreasing blood supply to the area and predisposing the area to invasion of bacteria. Chronic laxative use is a common problem in elderly clients. but it doesn’t cause diverticulitis. Chronic constipation can cause an obstruction—not diverticulitis. Herniation of the intestinal mucosa causes an intestinal perforation.

Diverticulosis involves a noninflamed outpouchings of the intestine. Diverticulitis involves an inflamed outpouching. The partial impairment of forward flow of the intestine is an obstruction; abnormal protrusion of an organ is a hernia.

The initial pain typically starts in the epigastric or periumbilical region, which is the area just below the sternum or around the navel, respectively. As the condition progresses, the pain tends to migrate toward the right lower quadrant of the abdomen, where it localizes and intensifies. This shift is often a key indicator of the underlying issue at hand.

A barium enema will cause diverticula to fill with barium and be easily seen on x-ray. An abdominal US can tell more about structures. such as the gallbladder. liver. and spleen. than the intestine. A barium swallow and gastroscopy view upper GI structures.

Diverticulosis is an asymptomatic condition. The other choices are signs and symptoms of diverticulitis.