Disorders of The Digestive System
Disorders of The Digestive System
Digestive System
Disorders of the Digestive
System
Sources of digestive problems
Mechanical
Nervous
Chemical
Hormonal
Eating Disorders
Anorexia
Chronic loss of
appetite
Possible emotional,
social factors
Anorexia Nervosa
Psychological disorder
Bulimia
Binge-purge syndrome
Causes of Anorexia
Anxiety, depression
Improper fit of dentures
Illness, physical discomfort
Constipation
Intestinal obstruction
Anorexia, Nursing
Implementation
Become familiar with patients eating
habits
Permit patient to choose own food
Don’t force patient to eat
Provide pleasant environment
Serve small portions
Dental Plaque and Caries
Erosive process that dissolves tooth
enamel
Medical management
Removal of affected area and
replace with dental material
Dental check ups
Fluoridated water
Nursing interventions
Teach patient oral care
Diet changes
Gingivititis
Inflammation of the gums
Symptoms
Bleeding, swollen, tender gums
Difficulty chewing
Causes
Accumulation of food between teeth
Vitamin deficiency
Anemia
Leukemia
Prevention
Brushing teeth & gums
Daily flossing
Adequate diet
Periodontitis
Untreated Periodontitis
Teeth loosen
Spreads to mandible
Prevention
Impeccable tooth & gum
Regular flossing
Adequate diet
Treatment
Drainage of abscess
Antibiotics
Extraction
Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis
Multi system disorder
Painful ulcers
Mouth
Genitals
Uveal tract of the eye
Causes
Viruses, bacteria, fungus
Chemotherapy
Vitamin deficiency
Four Forms
Minor Type
Canker sores
Lesions are 2- 4 mm in diameter
Usually fewer than 5 in number
Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis
Diagnosis
Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)
Visualize tissue and Biopsy if necessary
Wireless capsule endoscope
Complications
– Stool impaction
– Small bowel stricture
Peptic Ulcers (PUD)
Medical management/Nursing interventions
NG tube until bleeding subsides
Antacids
Histamine H2 receptor blockers
Proton pump inhibitor
Mucosal healing agents
Antibiotics
Anticolingerics
Reclining for 1 hour post meal
IV fluid
Diet
High in fat and carbohydrates
Low in protein and milk products
Small frequent meals
Limit coffee, tobacco, alcohol, and NSAID use
Peptic Ulcers (PUD)
Medical management/Nursing interventions
Surgery
Antrectomy-
Gastrodudodenostomy (Billroth I)
Gastrojejunostomy (Billroth II)
Total gastrectomy
Vagotomy
Pyloroplasty
Types of gastric resections with anastomoses.
A, Billroth I. B, Billroth II.
Peptic Ulcers
Complications after gastric surgery
Dumping syndrome
Eat 6 small meals a day
high in protein and
carbohydrates
Eat slowly and avoid fluid
with meals
Pernicious anemia
Iron deficiency anemia
Diarrhea
Complications
Fecal impaction
Cardiac complications from straining
Dilation of colon (Megacolon)
Colonic mucosal atrophy
Fecal incontinence
Constipation
Treatment
High fiber diet
2-3 liters of fluid a day
Strengthening of abdominal muscles
Behavior changing
Diet
Whole grains
Fresh fruits
Vegetables
Constipation
Medications
Bulk forming agents
Absorb fluid and swell in the intestine and increase peristaltic action
Laxatives
Bulk forming, stool softeners, stimulant, and saline
Stool softeners
Detergent like drugs that permit easier penetration and mixing of
fats and fluids with the fecal mass
Stimulant
Increase the motility of GI tract by chemical irritation of the intestinal
mucosa
Golytely
Causes a large volume of water to be retained in the colon
Results in diarrhea within 30-60 minutes
Constipation
Enemas
Instilled directly into the lower colon
Retained in bowel
Cleansing
Types of enemas
Tap water
Saline
Soap
Oil
Medicated
Infection
Etiology/Pathophysiology
Invasion by pathogenic microorganisms
Person-to-person contact
Fecal-oral transmission
Long-term antibiotic therapy
Clinical manifestations
Rectal urgency
Tenesmus
Nausea, vomiting & diarrhea
Abdominal cramping
Fever
Infection
E-coli 0157:H7
Not part of normal human intestinal flora
Found in 1% of food cattle
Contaminated or under cooked meat or contaminated water
Signs and symptoms
Bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and tenderness
Avoid-anti-diarrheals and anti-mobility
C-Difficle
Complication of antibiotic because it inhibits the growth of normal
intestinal flora and allows for the overgrowth of C-Difficile
A toxin is produced that causes tissue damage in the intestine
Stop the offending antibiotic
Diagnosis-stool culture
Treatment-Flagyl or Vancomycin
Infection
Risk Factors
Recent travel to endemic area
Food borne Illness
Waterborne Illness
Day care exposure
High-risk sexual behavior
Antibiotic use within 6 months (C-
Difficile)
Infection
Diagnostic tests
Stool culture
Blood chemistry
Medical management/nursing interventions
Antibiotics
Fluid and electrolyte replacement
Kaopectate
Pepto-Bismol
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Etiology/Pathophysiology
Episodes of alteration in bowel function
Spastic and uncoordinated muscle
contractions of the colon
Related to eating coarse or highly seasoned
food
Clinical manifestations
Abdominal pain and distention relieved by BM
Frequent bowel movements
Sense of incomplete evacuation
Flatulence, constipation, and/or diarrhea
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Etiology/Pathophysiology
Protrusion of the stomach and other abdominal
viscera through an opening in the membrane or tissue
of the diaphragm
Contributing factors: obesity, trauma, aging
Clinical manifestations/Assessment
Most people display few, if any, symptoms
Gastroesophageal reflux
Hiatal Hernia
Medical management/Nursing intervention
Head of bed should be slightly elevated when lying
down
Small frequent meals
OTC medications for GERD
Surgery
Posterior gastropexy
Transabdominal
fundoplication (Nissen)
Hiatal Hernia
Intestinal obstruction
Etiology/pathophysiology
Intestinal contents cannot pass
Partial or complete
Mechanical
Non-mechanical
Clinical manifestations/assessment
Vomiting; dehydration
Abdominal tenderness and distention
Constipation
Hiatal Hernia
Clinical manifestations/Assessment
Loud high pitched bowel sounds above the
obstruction and absent bowel sounds below
Inability to pass stool or gas
Vomiting, abdominal cramps, abdominal
distention
Diagnostic tests
Radiographic examinations
BUN, sodium, potassium,
hemoglobin and hematocrit
Intestinal Obstruction
Medical management/Nursing interventions
Evacuation of intestine
NG tube to decompress the bowel
Intestinal tube to evacuate the contents
Surgery
Required for mechanical obstructions
– Bowel resection
Hemorrhoids
Etiology/Pathophysiology
Varicosities (dilated anorectal vessels/veins)
External or internal
Contributing factors
– Straining with defecation, diarrhea,
constipation, pregnancy, obesity, CHF, portal
hypertension, family history, prolonged sitting
and standing
Anatomic abnormalities
Intrinsic weakness of anal blood vessels
Hemorrhoids
Clinical manifestations/Assessment
Varicosities in rectal area
Bright red bleeding with defecation
Pruritus
Rectal Pain
Prolapsed hemorrhoid
Fullness or mass sensation
Hemorrhoids
Diagnostic tests
Visual inspection
Digital Rectal Exam
Anoscopy
Differential Diagnosis
Fissure
Perirectal Abscess
Rectal Fistula
Condyloma
Rectal carcinoma
Hemorrhoids
Medical management/Nursing interventions
Bulk stool softeners
Hydrocortisone cream
Analgesic ointment
Sitz baths
Ligation
Sclerotherapy;
Cryotherapy
Infrared photocoagulation
Hemorrhoidectomy
Anal Fissure
Etiology/Pathophysiology
Linear ulceration or laceration of the skin of the anus
Usually caused by trauma
Lesions usually heal spontaneously
May be excised surgically
Usually follows trauma or diarrheal illness
Increased anodermal blood flow causes fissures
Affects young and middle-aged adults
Anal Fissure
Clinical manifestations/Assessment
Onset after forced hard bowel movement
Bright red rectal bleeding
Pain during bowel movement
Cut with sharp glass sensation
Pain persists for an hour after stooling
Avoid anoscopy if possible
Painful and usually not needed
Use local anesthesia if performed
Anal Fissure
Clinical manifestations/Assessment (continued)
Crack or crevice in anoderm at anal verge
Usually in canal midline (anterior or
posterior)
Lateral suggests other diagnosis
Best seen with lateral traction on opposite
buttock
Sentinel pile (distal skin tag)
Tag-like swelling of fissure end
Results from infection and edema
Anal Fistula
Etiology/Pathophysiology
Abnormal opening on the surface near the anus
Usually from a local abscess
Common in Crohn’s disease
Treated by a fistulectomy or fistulotomy
Perirectal abscess sequelae of rupture or
surgery
Anal Fissure
Anorectal cancer
Tuberculosis
Local radiation therapy
Lymphogranuloma venereum
Anal Fistula
Clinical manifestations/Assessment
Chronic seropurulent or mucus drainage from fistula
Communicating tract between perianal skin and anus
One or several external openings tracking toward
anus
Associated conditions
Perirectal Abscess