Download Diseases of the GI System

IBS
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 Marked by a group of GI symptoms often related to
stress.
 Symptoms often benign, sometimes showing no
physical or inflammatory condition
 More often seen in women
 Usually seen between ages of 20-30
CAUSES

 Physiological Stress (most often)
 Ingested irritants as coffee, raw fruit & vegetables
 Lactose Intolerance
 Abuse of Laxatives
 Hormonal Changes
 Food Allergies
S/SX

 N &V
 Lower abdominal cramping during day, relieves by
passage of gas
 Pain- usually worst 1-2 hours after a meal
 Constipation alternating with diarrhea
 Some passage of mucous from the rectum
 Abdominal bloating & distension
Diagnostic Imaging

 Barium studies reveals colon bloating and spasm
 Colonoscopy reveals spastic contractions of the colon
without any evidence of tumors or other disease
conditions
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Rx
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Stress management
Avoid Food irritants
Food allergy testing
Heat to Abd
Antispasmodics
Antidepressants
ULCERATIVE COLITIS

 Continuous inflammation of the colon & rectum.
 Most commonly begins in the sigmoid colon and
moves upward.
 Begins with excessive edema leading to ulcerations
 In extreme cases can lead to perforation or puncture
of the colon
 Unknown cause, but may be related to immune system
response to food or bacteria in colon or possible heredity

 Effects women much more than men
 Onset of systems between ages of 15-30, and again 55-65
s/sx

 Weight Loss
 Foul- smelling stools
 Bloody stools, often containing excess pus & mucous
 Abdominal cramping
 weakness
DIAGNOSTIC TESTS

 Sigmoidoscopy
 Colonoscopy with a biopsy
 Barium Enema would reveal the extent of condition
 Abdominal X-rays
Lab Tests
HGB, WBC, Bleeding time, stool specimens

Rx

 Steroids
 Antidiarrheal medication
 Antibiotics
 Iron Supplements
For severe cases
TPN
IV fluids
Ileostomy
Prognosis

 Usually good with diet and medication intervention
CIRRHOSIS OF THE
LIVER

 Chronic Disease characterized by destruction and
fibrotic regeneration of liver cells.
 Most people live 5 years after diagnosis
 Twice a common in men than women,
 Prevalent in alcoholics, drug users over the age of 50
 Other causes- Hepatitis, Autoimmune diseases
 Malnutrition
S/Sx

Early Stages
 Anorexia
 Dull abdominal ache
Late Stages
 Respiratory difficulty
 Ascites
 Enlarged liver
 Jaundice, Bleeding problems, enlarged abd veins
DIAGNOSTIC
IMAGING

 Abdominal X-rays
 CT scan and liver scan would show liver size, fibrotic
areas, & masses, hepatic blood flow
 Esophagogastroduodenoscopy-shows bleeding and
blockage

Rx

 Vitamins
 Healthy diet
 Surgical shunt
 Liver Transplant
PROGNOSIS

 Fair, depending on stage & lifestyle changes. If
lifestyle does does change, less than 5 years from dx
DIVERTICULITIS

 Pouch like structures bulge through the mucous
lining of the intestines. Usually in large intestine, but
can occur in ileum and other parts of the GI tract
 Most prevalent in men over age 40, and people who
eat low fiber diets. More than half of people over the
age of 60 have some diverticulitis issues
Cause

 Exact cause unknown
 Low fiber diet
 Diminished colon mobility
S/SX

 Moderate LLQ abd pain
 Low grade fever
 N/V
 Constipation, alternating with ribbon like stools
 In severe cases
 Infection, peritonitis, obstruction
DIAGNOSTIC
IMAGING

 Upper GI series w/ barium
 Barium enema
 Biopsy

Rx

 Liquid, bland diet
 pain medications
 Antibiotics
 Colon resection to remove pouches
Prognosis
Good with treatment
APPENDICITIS

 ACUTE INFLAMMATION OF THE APPENDIX
USUALLY DUE TO AN OBSTRUCTION AND
INFECTION

SYMPTOMS

 GENERALIZED ABDOMINAL PAIN THAT LATER
LOCALIZES AT THE LOWER RIGHT QUADRANT
 N&V
 MILD FEVER
 ELEVATED WBC
DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING
 CT Scan to confirm Dx
Rx
Surgery
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GASTROENTERITIS

 INFLAMMATION OF MUCOUS MEMBRANE
LINING THE STOMACH AND INTESTINAL
TRACT
CAUSES
 FOOD POISONING
 INFECTIONS
 TOXINS
Rx

 USUALLY REST AND INCREASED FLUID INTAKE
 IN SEVERE CASES, ANTIBOTICS, IV FLUIDS, AND
MEDICATIONS TO SLOW PERISTALSIS MAY BE
USED
DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING
Usually not required, but can abd x rays are are done if
symptoms last more than a few days.
CROHN’S DISEASE

 Inflammation of any part of the GI tract, but usually
in the last parts of the ileum. The inflammation
extends thru all layers of the intestine.
 Most prevalent in adults 20-40 years of age
 Unknown cause, but lymphatic obstruction,
allergies, genetic predisposition, infection
S/Sx
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 Steady pain in RLQ
 Cramping, tenderness
 Weight Loss
 Diarrhea, fatty stools, bloody stools
 Low grade fever
 Perineal Abscess
DIAGNOSTIC
IMAGING

 Small bowel X-ray shows irregular mucous,
ulcerations, and stiffness
 Barium enema shows narrowing of the bowel
 Sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy show patchy areas
of inflammation

Rx

 Steroids
 Antibiotics
 Stress reduction
 Vitamin supplemnts
 Diet changes. Avoid high fiber, spicy, or fatty foods,
dairy products, carbonated or caffeine containing
beverages
COLON CANCER

 2ND MOST COMMON TYPE OF CANCER IN THE
US
 Tends to progress slowly and remain localized
for a long time
 Equally occurs in men & women
90% curable if caught early
Incidence increases over age 40
CAUSES
Low fiber, high calorie diet
Hx of other GI diseases
Smoking
Diabetes
Alcohol use
Sedentary lifestyle

S/Sx

 Weakness, Fatigue
 Poor appetite, weight loss
 Rectal bleeding, dull cramps, constipation/diarrhea
 Vomiting
Diagnostic Imaging

 CT scan allows good visualization
 Barium enema to see any obstructions
Rx
Surgery to remove tumor & any involved structure
Chemotherapy
Radiation either before or after surgery
High fiber diet
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