Cirrhosis
CIRRHOSIS-CASE-STUDY-HELP
John Richards, 45 years old
Primary Concept
Nutrition
Interrelated Concepts (In order of emphasis)
1. Fluid and Electrolyte Balance
2. Perfusion
3. Cognition
4. Addiction
5. Clinical Judgment
6. Patient Education
7. Communication
8. Collaboration
© 2016 Keith Rischer/www.KeithRN.com
UNFOLDING Reasoning Case Study: STUDENT
Cirrhosis
History of Present Problem:
John Richards is a 45-year-old male who presents to the emergency department (ED) with abdominal pain and worsening
nausea and vomiting the past three days that have not resolved. He is feeling more fatigued and has had a poor appetite the
past month. He denies any ETOH (alcohol) intake the past week, but admits to episodic binge drinking on most weekends.
John weighs 150 pounds (68.2 kg) and is 6'0" (BMI 17.6). You are the nurse responsible for his care.
Personal/Social History:
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John is single, has never married, and lives alone in his own apartment. He has struggled with heroin use/abuse in the past,
but has not used in the past two years. John is currently unemployed and has no health insurance. He was diagnosed with
hepatitis C ten years ago but has had minimal follow-up medical care since.
What data from the histories are RELEVANT and have clinical significance to the nurse?
RELEVANT Data from Present Problem: Clinical Significance:
Abdominal pain S/S cirrhosis
Nausea and vomiting Risk for hypovolemia/ F+E imbalance
Fatigue poor Alcohol can be a causative factor
appetite Malnutrition
episodic binge drinking
BMI 17.6
RELEVANT Data from Social History: Clinical Significance:
Lives alone Possibly no support system
Unemployed Hep C- risk factor
Past Dx of Hep C.
What is the RELATIONSHIP of your patient’s past medical history (PMH) and current meds?
(Which medication treats which condition? Draw lines to connect.)
PMH: Home Meds: Pharm. Classification: Expected Outcome:
*Hepatitis C–past history of Ibuprofen 600 mg PO prn NSAID Pain relief
IV drug abuse for headache
*ETOH abuse x 25 years
One disease process often influences the development of other illnesses. Based on your knowledge of
pathophysiology, (if applicable), which disease likely developed FIRST that created a “domino effect” in his/her
life?
• BOLD the PMH problem that likely started FIRST.
• Underline the PMH problem(s) FOLLOWED as domino(s).
Patient Care Begins:
Current VS: P-Q-R-S-T Pain Assessment (5th VS):
T: 100.5 F/38.1 C (oral) Provoking/Palliative: Nothing/nothing
P: 110 (regular) Quality: Ache
R: 20 Region/Radiation: RUQ/epigastric
BP: 128/88 Severity: 6/10
O2 sat: 95% RA Timing: Continuous
Orthostatic BP’s:
Position: HR: BP:
Lying 110 128/88
Standing 132 124/80
What VS data are RELEVANT and must be recognized as clinically significant by the nurse?
RELEVANT VS Data: Rationale:
Temp Elevated- infection
Pulse rate Tachycardia d/t Pain- something is wrong,
RR dehydration RR high end of normal- continue to
Pain monitor
Orthostatic BP Pain in RUQ- liver or gallbladder
Ortho. Mild. HR changed by 22
Current Assessment:
GENERAL Appears uncomfortable, body tense, occasional facial grimacing
APPEARANCE:
RESP: Breath sounds clear with equal aeration bilaterally, non-labored respiratory effort
CARDIAC: Pink, warm & dry,1+ pitting edema lower extremities, heart sounds regular–S1S2, pulses
strong, equal with palpation at radial/pedal/post-tibial landmarks
NEURO: Alert & oriented to person, place, time, and situation (x4)