NUR 2063 – Pathophysiology Exam 2, Nursing Course, Comprehensive Exam
Review and Study Guide
What is gastritis? - ✔✔Inflammation of the stomach lining. The lining will be red and inflamed
and irritated
What are the causes of gastritis? - ✔✔Ingestion of irritating substances such a alcohol, aspirin,
NSAIDS, viruses and bacteria
What is GERD? - ✔✔the back flow of gastric contents into the esophagus through the lower
esophageal sphincter. The inflammation occurs from the reflex of highly acidic stomach acid
that comes up.
What are the causes of GERD? - ✔✔Any condition or agent that alters closure of the lower
esophageal sphincter or increases in abdominal pressure, fatty food, caffeine, large amounts of
alcohol, smoking, pregnancy and anatomical features like hiatal hernia
What are complications of GERD? - ✔✔Barrett's esophagus where columnar tissue replaces
normal squamous tissue in the distal esophagus that carries a high risk for cancer. Progression
can lead to ulcers and scarring. Esophageal strictures, pulmonary symptoms such as cough,
asthma and laryngitis from reflux in breathing passages.
What are the signs and symptoms of peptic ulcer disease? - ✔✔epigastric burning pain that is
usually relieved by food or antacids (gastric ulcers present on empty stomach but can be after
food, duodenal ulcers present 2-3 hours after food and is relieved by food). Can also be life
threatening as GI bleeding can occur without warning and cause a drop in H/H and dark tarry
stools and hematemesis.
What is the role of H.pylori in peptic ulcer disease? - ✔✔promotes both gastric and duodenal
ulcer formation and thrives in acidic areas. It slows down ulcer healing and can reoccur
frequently, and taking it away can help ulcers heal.
,What is pseudomembranous colitis?(C.diff) - ✔✔acute inflammation and necrosis of large
intestine. The intestinal lining cannot absorb well.
What is the cause of pseudomembranous colitis? - ✔✔clostridium difficile, exposure to long
term antibiotics that off set the e.coli and c.diff balance in intestine
What are the manifestations of pseudomembranous colitis? - ✔✔foul smelling/bloody stool,
abdominal pain, fever, leukocytosis, sepsis, colonic perforation.
How do we treat pseudomembranous colitis? - ✔✔stop current antibiotics, treat ischemia and
contributing conditions, give oral antibiotics like metronidazole or vancomycin, fecal transplant
or colectomy if severe
How do we prevent the spread of pseudomembranous colitis? - ✔✔wearing appropriate PPE
and washing hands with soap and water only
What are the signs and symptoms of appendicitis? - ✔✔Periumbilical pain, RLQ pain, presence
of a positive McBurneys point with pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, diarrhea, RLQ tenderness,
systemic signs of infection
How do we assess for appendicitis? - ✔✔McBurney's point technique when pressing on the
belly button and RLQ hip region and removing the pressure causes intense pain, indicates
positive appendicitis
What are the causes of bowel obstructions? - ✔✔previous surgery of the intestines with
adhesions, congenital abnormalities of the bowel, metastatic cancer of the intestinal tract or
female reproductive organs, accumulation of fluid, gas, water and electrolytes in the bowel.
, What is a functional bowel obstruction? - ✔✔a problem with the act of the bowel actually
moving, such as things that inhibit movement from surgery, medications, opioids, low fiber diets
that can slow motility or shut off the GI system from the SNS stimulation.
What is a mechanical bowel obstruction? - ✔✔due to adhesions, hernia, tumors, impacted
feces, volvus or twisting of the intestines, intussusception
What are the signs and symptoms of liver disease? - ✔✔hepatocellular failure (jaundice,
decreased clotting, hypoalbuminemia, decreased vitamin D and K) and portal hypertension (GI
congestion due to blockage of blood, more esophageal or gastric varies, hemorrhoids, enlarged
spleen,)
Explain what jaundice is? - ✔✔green- yellow staining of tissues from increased level of
bilirubin as the liver cannot metabolize extra bilirubin
Where can you find jaundice on assessment? - ✔✔eyes, skin, and mouth
Explain what ascites is? - ✔✔pathological accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity due to
the loss of albumin in the liver, causing fluid to be free amongst the cells. It can cause a lot of
pain in the abdomen, and it must be drained with a parenthesis
Explain hepatic encephalopathy? - ✔✔neuropsychiatric syndrome from too much ammonia in
the blood as the liver cannot break it down. results in dementia and psychotic symptoms
common along with jerking
What is another name for end stage liver disease? - ✔✔cirrhosis
What are the signs and symptoms of gallstones? - ✔✔sudden pain in the RUQ/ center of the
abdomen, back pain, and nauseas and vomiting.
Review and Study Guide
What is gastritis? - ✔✔Inflammation of the stomach lining. The lining will be red and inflamed
and irritated
What are the causes of gastritis? - ✔✔Ingestion of irritating substances such a alcohol, aspirin,
NSAIDS, viruses and bacteria
What is GERD? - ✔✔the back flow of gastric contents into the esophagus through the lower
esophageal sphincter. The inflammation occurs from the reflex of highly acidic stomach acid
that comes up.
What are the causes of GERD? - ✔✔Any condition or agent that alters closure of the lower
esophageal sphincter or increases in abdominal pressure, fatty food, caffeine, large amounts of
alcohol, smoking, pregnancy and anatomical features like hiatal hernia
What are complications of GERD? - ✔✔Barrett's esophagus where columnar tissue replaces
normal squamous tissue in the distal esophagus that carries a high risk for cancer. Progression
can lead to ulcers and scarring. Esophageal strictures, pulmonary symptoms such as cough,
asthma and laryngitis from reflux in breathing passages.
What are the signs and symptoms of peptic ulcer disease? - ✔✔epigastric burning pain that is
usually relieved by food or antacids (gastric ulcers present on empty stomach but can be after
food, duodenal ulcers present 2-3 hours after food and is relieved by food). Can also be life
threatening as GI bleeding can occur without warning and cause a drop in H/H and dark tarry
stools and hematemesis.
What is the role of H.pylori in peptic ulcer disease? - ✔✔promotes both gastric and duodenal
ulcer formation and thrives in acidic areas. It slows down ulcer healing and can reoccur
frequently, and taking it away can help ulcers heal.
,What is pseudomembranous colitis?(C.diff) - ✔✔acute inflammation and necrosis of large
intestine. The intestinal lining cannot absorb well.
What is the cause of pseudomembranous colitis? - ✔✔clostridium difficile, exposure to long
term antibiotics that off set the e.coli and c.diff balance in intestine
What are the manifestations of pseudomembranous colitis? - ✔✔foul smelling/bloody stool,
abdominal pain, fever, leukocytosis, sepsis, colonic perforation.
How do we treat pseudomembranous colitis? - ✔✔stop current antibiotics, treat ischemia and
contributing conditions, give oral antibiotics like metronidazole or vancomycin, fecal transplant
or colectomy if severe
How do we prevent the spread of pseudomembranous colitis? - ✔✔wearing appropriate PPE
and washing hands with soap and water only
What are the signs and symptoms of appendicitis? - ✔✔Periumbilical pain, RLQ pain, presence
of a positive McBurneys point with pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, diarrhea, RLQ tenderness,
systemic signs of infection
How do we assess for appendicitis? - ✔✔McBurney's point technique when pressing on the
belly button and RLQ hip region and removing the pressure causes intense pain, indicates
positive appendicitis
What are the causes of bowel obstructions? - ✔✔previous surgery of the intestines with
adhesions, congenital abnormalities of the bowel, metastatic cancer of the intestinal tract or
female reproductive organs, accumulation of fluid, gas, water and electrolytes in the bowel.
, What is a functional bowel obstruction? - ✔✔a problem with the act of the bowel actually
moving, such as things that inhibit movement from surgery, medications, opioids, low fiber diets
that can slow motility or shut off the GI system from the SNS stimulation.
What is a mechanical bowel obstruction? - ✔✔due to adhesions, hernia, tumors, impacted
feces, volvus or twisting of the intestines, intussusception
What are the signs and symptoms of liver disease? - ✔✔hepatocellular failure (jaundice,
decreased clotting, hypoalbuminemia, decreased vitamin D and K) and portal hypertension (GI
congestion due to blockage of blood, more esophageal or gastric varies, hemorrhoids, enlarged
spleen,)
Explain what jaundice is? - ✔✔green- yellow staining of tissues from increased level of
bilirubin as the liver cannot metabolize extra bilirubin
Where can you find jaundice on assessment? - ✔✔eyes, skin, and mouth
Explain what ascites is? - ✔✔pathological accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity due to
the loss of albumin in the liver, causing fluid to be free amongst the cells. It can cause a lot of
pain in the abdomen, and it must be drained with a parenthesis
Explain hepatic encephalopathy? - ✔✔neuropsychiatric syndrome from too much ammonia in
the blood as the liver cannot break it down. results in dementia and psychotic symptoms
common along with jerking
What is another name for end stage liver disease? - ✔✔cirrhosis
What are the signs and symptoms of gallstones? - ✔✔sudden pain in the RUQ/ center of the
abdomen, back pain, and nauseas and vomiting.
