GI Practice Question Answer Key
1. Which condition is NOT a known cause of cirrhosis?
A. Obesity
B. Alcohol consumption
C. Blockage of the bile duct
D. Hepatitis C
E. All are known causes of Cirrhosis
The answer is E. All of these conditions can cause cirrhosis.
2. The liver receives it blood supply from two sources. One of these sources is called the _________________,
which is a vessel network that delivers blood _____________ in nutrients but ________ in oxygen.
A. hepatic artery, low, high
B. hepatic portal vein, high, low
C. hepatic lobule, high, low
D. hepatic vein, low, high
The answer is B. Majority of the blood flow to the liver comes from the hepatic portal vein. This vessel network
delivers blood HIGH in nutrients (lipids, proteins, carbs etc.) from organs that aid in the digestion of food, but
the blood is POOR in oxygen. The organs connected to the hepatic portal vein are: small/large intestine,
pancreas, spleen, stomach. Rich oxygenated blood comes from the hepatic artery to the liver.
3. A patient with late-stage cirrhosis develops portal hypertension. Which of the following options below are
complications that can develop from this condition? Select all that apply:
A. Increase albumin levels
B. Ascites
C. Splenomegaly
D. Fluid volume deficient
E. Esophageal varices
The answer are B, C, and E. Portal Hypertension is where the portal vein becomes narrow due to scar tissue in
the liver, which is restricting the flow of blood to the liver. Therefore, pressure becomes increased in the portal
vein and affects the organs connected via the vein to the liver. The patient may experience ascites, enlarged
spleen “splenomegaly”, and esophageal varices etc.
4. Your patient with cirrhosis has severe splenomegaly. As the nurse you will make it priority to monitor the
patient for signs and symptoms of? Select all that apply:
, A. Thrombocytopenia
B. Vision changes
C. Increased PT/INR
D. Leukopenia
The answers are A, C, and D. A patient with an enlarged spleen (splenomegaly) due to cirrhosis can experience
thrombocytopenia (low platelet count), increased PT/INR (means it takes the patient a long time to stop
bleeding), and leukopenia (low white blood cells). The spleen stores platelets and WBCs. An enlarged spleen
can develop due to portal hypertension, which causes the platelets and WBCs to become stuck inside the spleen
due to the increased pressure in the hepatic vein (hence lowering the count and the body’s access to these
important cells for survival).
5. A patient is admitted with hepatic encephalopathy secondary to cirrhosis. Which meal option selection below
should be avoided with this patient?
A. Beef tips and broccoli rabe
B. Pasta noodles and bread
C. Cucumber sandwich with a side of grapes
D. Fresh salad with chopped water chestnuts
The answer is A. Patients who are experiencing hepatic encephalopathy are having issues with toxin build up in
the body, specifically ammonia. Remember that ammonia is the byproduct of protein breakdown, and normally
the liver can take the ammonia from the protein breakdown and turn it into urea (but if the cirrhosis is severe
enough this can’t happen). Therefore, the patient should consume foods LOW in protein until the
encephalopathy subsides. Option A is very high in protein while the others are low in protein. Remember meats,
legumes, eggs, broccoli rabe, certain grains etc. are high in protein.
6. During your morning assessment of a patient with cirrhosis, you note the patient is disoriented to person and
place. In addition while assessing the upper extremities, the patient’s hands demonstrate a flapping motion.
What lab result would explain these abnormal assessment findings?
A. Decreased magnesium level
B. Increased calcium level
C. Increased ammonia level
D. Increased creatinine level
The answer is C. Based on the assessment findings and the fact the patient has cirrhosis, the patient is
experiencing hepatic encephalopathy. This is due to the buildup of toxins in the blood, specifically ammonia.
The flapping motion of the hands is called “asterixis”. Therefore, an increased ammonia level would confirm
these abnormal assessment findings.
, 7. You are receiving shift report on a patient with cirrhosis. The nurse tells you the patient’s bilirubin levels are
very high. Based on this, what assessment findings may you expect to find during your head-to-toe assessment?
Select all that apply:
A. Frothy light-colored urine
B. Dark brown urine
C. Yellowing of the sclera
D. Dark brown stool
E. Jaundice of the skin
F. Bluish mucous membranes
The answers are B, C, and E. High bilirubin levels are because the hepatocytes are no longer able to properly
conjugate the bilirubin because they are damaged. This causes bilirubin to leak into the blood and urine (rather
than entering the bile and being excreted in the stool). Therefore, the bilirubin stays in the blood and will enter
the urine. This will cause the patient to experience yellowing of the skin, sclera of the eyes, and mucous
membranes (“jaundice”) and have dark brown urine. The stools would be CLAY-COLORED not dark brown
(remember bilirubin normally gives stool it brown color but it will be absent).
8. A 45 year old male has cirrhosis. The patient reports concern about the development of enlarged breast tissue.
You explain to the patient that this is happening because?
A. The liver cells are removing too much estrogen from the body which causes the testicles to produce
excessive amounts of estrogen, and this leads to gynecomastia.
B. The liver is producing too much estrogen due to the damage to the liver cells, which causes the level
to increase in the body, and this leads to gynecomastia.
C. The liver cells are failing to recycle estrogen into testosterone, which leads to gynecomastia.
D. The liver cells are failing to remove the hormone estrogen properly from the body, which causes the
level to increase in the body, and this leads to gynecomastia.
The answer is D.
9. You’re providing an in-service to new nurse graduates about esophageal varices in patients with cirrhosis.
You ask the graduates to list activities that should be avoided by a patient with this condition. Which activities
listed are correct: Select all that apply
A. Excessive coughing
B. Sleeping on the back
C. Drinking juice
D. Alcohol consumption
1. Which condition is NOT a known cause of cirrhosis?
A. Obesity
B. Alcohol consumption
C. Blockage of the bile duct
D. Hepatitis C
E. All are known causes of Cirrhosis
The answer is E. All of these conditions can cause cirrhosis.
2. The liver receives it blood supply from two sources. One of these sources is called the _________________,
which is a vessel network that delivers blood _____________ in nutrients but ________ in oxygen.
A. hepatic artery, low, high
B. hepatic portal vein, high, low
C. hepatic lobule, high, low
D. hepatic vein, low, high
The answer is B. Majority of the blood flow to the liver comes from the hepatic portal vein. This vessel network
delivers blood HIGH in nutrients (lipids, proteins, carbs etc.) from organs that aid in the digestion of food, but
the blood is POOR in oxygen. The organs connected to the hepatic portal vein are: small/large intestine,
pancreas, spleen, stomach. Rich oxygenated blood comes from the hepatic artery to the liver.
3. A patient with late-stage cirrhosis develops portal hypertension. Which of the following options below are
complications that can develop from this condition? Select all that apply:
A. Increase albumin levels
B. Ascites
C. Splenomegaly
D. Fluid volume deficient
E. Esophageal varices
The answer are B, C, and E. Portal Hypertension is where the portal vein becomes narrow due to scar tissue in
the liver, which is restricting the flow of blood to the liver. Therefore, pressure becomes increased in the portal
vein and affects the organs connected via the vein to the liver. The patient may experience ascites, enlarged
spleen “splenomegaly”, and esophageal varices etc.
4. Your patient with cirrhosis has severe splenomegaly. As the nurse you will make it priority to monitor the
patient for signs and symptoms of? Select all that apply:
, A. Thrombocytopenia
B. Vision changes
C. Increased PT/INR
D. Leukopenia
The answers are A, C, and D. A patient with an enlarged spleen (splenomegaly) due to cirrhosis can experience
thrombocytopenia (low platelet count), increased PT/INR (means it takes the patient a long time to stop
bleeding), and leukopenia (low white blood cells). The spleen stores platelets and WBCs. An enlarged spleen
can develop due to portal hypertension, which causes the platelets and WBCs to become stuck inside the spleen
due to the increased pressure in the hepatic vein (hence lowering the count and the body’s access to these
important cells for survival).
5. A patient is admitted with hepatic encephalopathy secondary to cirrhosis. Which meal option selection below
should be avoided with this patient?
A. Beef tips and broccoli rabe
B. Pasta noodles and bread
C. Cucumber sandwich with a side of grapes
D. Fresh salad with chopped water chestnuts
The answer is A. Patients who are experiencing hepatic encephalopathy are having issues with toxin build up in
the body, specifically ammonia. Remember that ammonia is the byproduct of protein breakdown, and normally
the liver can take the ammonia from the protein breakdown and turn it into urea (but if the cirrhosis is severe
enough this can’t happen). Therefore, the patient should consume foods LOW in protein until the
encephalopathy subsides. Option A is very high in protein while the others are low in protein. Remember meats,
legumes, eggs, broccoli rabe, certain grains etc. are high in protein.
6. During your morning assessment of a patient with cirrhosis, you note the patient is disoriented to person and
place. In addition while assessing the upper extremities, the patient’s hands demonstrate a flapping motion.
What lab result would explain these abnormal assessment findings?
A. Decreased magnesium level
B. Increased calcium level
C. Increased ammonia level
D. Increased creatinine level
The answer is C. Based on the assessment findings and the fact the patient has cirrhosis, the patient is
experiencing hepatic encephalopathy. This is due to the buildup of toxins in the blood, specifically ammonia.
The flapping motion of the hands is called “asterixis”. Therefore, an increased ammonia level would confirm
these abnormal assessment findings.
, 7. You are receiving shift report on a patient with cirrhosis. The nurse tells you the patient’s bilirubin levels are
very high. Based on this, what assessment findings may you expect to find during your head-to-toe assessment?
Select all that apply:
A. Frothy light-colored urine
B. Dark brown urine
C. Yellowing of the sclera
D. Dark brown stool
E. Jaundice of the skin
F. Bluish mucous membranes
The answers are B, C, and E. High bilirubin levels are because the hepatocytes are no longer able to properly
conjugate the bilirubin because they are damaged. This causes bilirubin to leak into the blood and urine (rather
than entering the bile and being excreted in the stool). Therefore, the bilirubin stays in the blood and will enter
the urine. This will cause the patient to experience yellowing of the skin, sclera of the eyes, and mucous
membranes (“jaundice”) and have dark brown urine. The stools would be CLAY-COLORED not dark brown
(remember bilirubin normally gives stool it brown color but it will be absent).
8. A 45 year old male has cirrhosis. The patient reports concern about the development of enlarged breast tissue.
You explain to the patient that this is happening because?
A. The liver cells are removing too much estrogen from the body which causes the testicles to produce
excessive amounts of estrogen, and this leads to gynecomastia.
B. The liver is producing too much estrogen due to the damage to the liver cells, which causes the level
to increase in the body, and this leads to gynecomastia.
C. The liver cells are failing to recycle estrogen into testosterone, which leads to gynecomastia.
D. The liver cells are failing to remove the hormone estrogen properly from the body, which causes the
level to increase in the body, and this leads to gynecomastia.
The answer is D.
9. You’re providing an in-service to new nurse graduates about esophageal varices in patients with cirrhosis.
You ask the graduates to list activities that should be avoided by a patient with this condition. Which activities
listed are correct: Select all that apply
A. Excessive coughing
B. Sleeping on the back
C. Drinking juice
D. Alcohol consumption
