Gastrointestinal & Hepatic Assessment
This assessment finding in a client with liver disease indicates accumulation of fluid within the peritoneal cavity.
What is ascites?
Hypovolemia is a major complication of severe diarrhea because of excessive loss of these substances.
What are fluids and electrolytes?
Confusion, asterixis, and altered level of consciousness are manifestations of this hepatic complication.
What is hepatic encephalopathy?
Bonus: What is the priority nursing concern?
Bonus: What causes this?
Pain in the right upper quadrant after eating fatty foods is commonly associated with this disorder.
What is cholecystitis?
Tetany and positive Chvostek sign in pancreatitis may indicate deficiency of this electrolyte.
What is calcium?
Yellow discoloration of the skin and sclera observed during assessment suggests this hepatic manifestation.
What is jaundice?
*Bonus: what causes this discoloration?
The priority nursing intervention for suspected appendicitis before surgery is avoiding this action that may cause rupture.
What is applying heat to the abdomen?
This life-threatening complication of portal hypertension may present with hematemesis.
What are esophageal varices?
Murphy sign is a physical assessment finding associated with inflammation of this organ.
What is the gallbladder?
Clients with persistent vomiting are at risk for this acid-base imbalance.
What is metabolic alkalosis?
Rebound tenderness in the right lower quadrant is a classic assessment finding of this disorder.
What is appendicitis?
This complication should the nurse monitor for when an inflamed appendix ruptures.
What is sepsis?
Bonus: What are the manifestations and tx.?
Lactulose is administered to clients with liver disease primarily to reduce levels of this substance.
What is ammonia?
The priority nursing intervention during acute pancreatitis is maintaining this gastrointestinal status.
What is NPO status?
The nurse should monitor for this electrolyte imbalance in a client with prolonged nasogastric suctioning.
What is hypokalemia?
This laboratory value is commonly elevated in acute pancreatitis and is more pancreas-specific than amylase.
What is lipase?
A stool specimen for Clostridioides difficile is indicated when diarrhea occurs after this type of therapy.
What is antibiotic therapy?
Bonus: Nursing management of this infection includes...?
In acute liver failure, prolonged prothrombin time places the client at risk for this complication.
What is bleeding?
Bonus: What is another complication of liver failure that can lead to bleeding?
A client with acute pancreatitis is commonly positioned this way to decrease abdominal pain.
What is side-lying with knees flexed?
Hematemesis and melena are priority findings indicating this complication of gastrointestinal disease.
What is gastrointestinal bleeding?
During abdominal assessment, absent bowel sounds may indicate this life-threatening complication.
What is peritonitis?
Bonus: what can cause this and how is it treated?
The nurse suspects dehydration in a client with diarrhea who demonstrates this assessment finding.
What is poor skin turgor?
Fetor hepaticus is best described as this abnormal assessment finding in severe liver disease.
What is musty or sweet-smelling breath?
Fever, right upper quadrant pain, and jaundice together are known as this sign of ascending cholangitis.
What is Charcot’s triad?
Hematemesis, hypotension, and tachycardia indicate this immediate complication of GI bleeding.
What is hypovolemic shock?
Bonus: What are the nursing priorities?