Inflammation
This is the body's normal protective response to cellular injury, infection, or allergens.
What is inflammation?
Inflammation promotes healing by recruiting immune cells, fluid, and nutrients to injured tissue.
This type of viral hepatitis is most commonly spread by the fecal–oral route.
What is hepatitis A?
Teach hand hygiene, safe food practices, and vaccination.
This term describes excess fluid accumulating within the peritoneal cavity.
What is ascites?
Monitor daily weight, abdominal girth, respiratory status, and fluid balance.
This is the most common cause of acute cholecystitis.
What is obstruction of the cystic duct by a gallstone?
Obstruction leads to gallbladder distention and inflammation.
This enzyme is generally preferred for diagnosing acute pancreatitis.
What is serum lipase?
A level at least three times the upper limit supports diagnosis in the appropriate clinical setting.
This medication is commonly given for hepatic encephalopathy and is titrated to achieve approximately 2–3 soft stools daily.
What is lactulose?
It reduces intestinal ammonia absorption. Monitor stool frequency, hydration, and electrolytes.
Redness, heat, swelling, pain, and loss of function are collectively known as these.
What are the five cardinal signs of inflammation?
They result from vascular changes, increased permeability, and inflammatory mediators.
These two hepatitis viruses have vaccines routinely used for prevention.
What are hepatitis A and hepatitis B?
There is no licensed hepatitis C vaccine.
This complication results from increased pressure in the portal venous system.
What is portal hypertension?
It contributes to ascites, splenomegaly, and esophageal varices.
Pain in this abdominal quadrant is characteristic of acute cholecystitis.
What is the right upper quadrant (RUQ)?
Pain may radiate to the right shoulder or scapula.
These two conditions are common causes of acute pancreatitis.
What are gallstones and heavy alcohol use?
Other causes include hypertriglyceridemia, medications, and procedures.
These two diuretics are frequently used together to manage cirrhosis-related ascites.
What are spironolactone and furosemide?
Monitor potassium, sodium, blood pressure, renal function, and weight.
This laboratory test measures white blood cells and may help identify an inflammatory or infectious response.
What is a complete blood count (CBC)?
An elevated WBC may support inflammation or infection, but is not diagnostic by itself.
Yellowing of the skin and sclera caused by bilirubin accumulation is called this.
What is jaundice?
Assess bilirubin trends, urine and stool color, and pruritus.
Confusion, sleep reversal, and asterixis in a patient with cirrhosis suggest this complication.
What is hepatic encephalopathy?
Assess mental status, potential precipitants, and safety risks.
This bedside assessment finding involves inspiratory arrest during right upper quadrant palpation.
What is Murphy's sign?
A positive finding supports gallbladder inflammation in the appropriate clinical context.
This characteristic pain location and radiation pattern is common in acute pancreatitis.
What is severe epigastric pain radiating to the back?
Assess severity, vital signs, and associated nausea or vomiting.
This medication is used to reduce portal pressure and prevent recurrent variceal bleeding after stabilization.
What is propranolol or carvedilol?
Nonselective beta blockers require monitoring of blood pressure, heart rate, and contraindications.
These two liver enzymes are commonly elevated with hepatocellular injury.
What are AST and ALT?
The pattern and degree of elevation must be interpreted with other tests and clinical findings.
A patient with hepatitis develops easy bruising and prolonged PT/INR. This impaired liver function explains the findings.
What is reduced synthesis of clotting factors?
Monitor for bleeding; elevated INR may reflect impaired hepatic synthetic function.
This procedure removes ascitic fluid from the abdomen for diagnostic testing or symptom relief.
What is paracentesis?
Monitor vital signs, puncture site, and post-procedure fluid status.
This imaging study is generally the first-line test for suspected acute cholecystitis.
What is right upper quadrant ultrasound?
It can identify stones, wall thickening, and pericholecystic fluid.
This major complication can develop when pancreatic inflammation causes widespread lung injury and impaired oxygenation.
What is acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)?
Monitor respiratory rate, work of breathing, oxygenation, and deterioration.
This medication may be administered for nausea and vomiting associated with cholecystitis or pancreatitis; monitor for QT prolongation.
What is ondansetron?
Assess nausea relief, ECG risk factors, and electrolyte abnormalities.
A patient with abdominal inflammation develops BP 82/46, HR 128, and new confusion. This is the nurse's priority concern.
What is shock or impaired tissue perfusion?
Assess ABCs, activate urgent assistance, and initiate ordered resuscitation.
A patient with acute hepatitis develops new confusion, rising INR, and worsening jaundice. The nurse should suspect this life-threatening complication.
What is acute liver failure?
New encephalopathy with coagulopathy requires immediate evaluation.
A patient with cirrhosis vomits bright red blood. This life-threatening complication is suspected.
What is bleeding esophageal varices?
Prioritize airway, hemodynamic assessment, emergency response, and preparation for urgent treatment.
A patient with gallstones develops fever, jaundice, and RUQ pain. This urgent biliary complication must be considered.
What is acute cholangitis?
This classic triad suggests biliary infection and obstruction requiring urgent evaluation.
A patient with pancreatitis develops oliguria, hypotension, and tachycardia. The nurse should prioritize this physiologic problem.
What is hypovolemia with impaired organ perfusion?
Escalate care and reassess fluid resuscitation, urine output, renal function, and respiratory status.
This IV medication is commonly used for suspected acute variceal hemorrhage to reduce splanchnic blood flow.
What is octreotide?
It is used with urgent resuscitation, antibiotics when indicated, and endoscopic treatment.