NURS 6550 Midterm Exam Study Guide
Gastrointestinal System
Evaluation, differential diagnosis, treatment options, and complications
o Dyspepsia: acute, chronic, or recurrent pain in the upper abdomen
Etiology:
1. Food or drug intolerance, functional with no obvious cause,
luminal GI tract dysfunction, H-pylori infection, pancreatic
disease, biliary tract disease or other conditions such as DM,
thyroid disease, CKD, pregnancy or gastrointestinal ischemia.
Symptoms:
1. Epigastric pain or burning, postprandial fullness, bloating, nausea
or vomiting
2. If there is weight loss, persistent vomiting, severe pain or
hematemesis then endoscopy warranted.
Labs:
1. >50 years – CBC, BMP, LFT, calcium and thyroid function tests
2. <50 years with uncomplicated dyspepsia use noninvasive strategies
1st; H-pylori fecal test
Upper Endoscopy:
1. Use for pts over the age of 50 who have new dyspepsia associated
with weight loss, dysphagia, recurrent vomiting, bleeding or
anemia.
Other tests:
1. Patient with persistent symptoms or progressive weight loss, check
for celiac disease, stool for parasites, or abdominal imaging such as
CT or ultrasound
Treatment:
1. Empiric
Gastrointestinal System
Evaluation, differential diagnosis, treatment options, and complications
o Dyspepsia: acute, chronic, or recurrent pain in the upper abdomen
Etiology:
1. Food or drug intolerance, functional with no obvious cause,
luminal GI tract dysfunction, H-pylori infection, pancreatic
disease, biliary tract disease or other conditions such as DM,
thyroid disease, CKD, pregnancy or gastrointestinal ischemia.
Symptoms:
1. Epigastric pain or burning, postprandial fullness, bloating, nausea
or vomiting
2. If there is weight loss, persistent vomiting, severe pain or
hematemesis then endoscopy warranted.
Labs:
1. >50 years – CBC, BMP, LFT, calcium and thyroid function tests
2. <50 years with uncomplicated dyspepsia use noninvasive strategies
1st; H-pylori fecal test
Upper Endoscopy:
1. Use for pts over the age of 50 who have new dyspepsia associated
with weight loss, dysphagia, recurrent vomiting, bleeding or
anemia.
Other tests:
1. Patient with persistent symptoms or progressive weight loss, check
for celiac disease, stool for parasites, or abdominal imaging such as
CT or ultrasound
Treatment:
1. Empiric
