Nursing 465 - GI PPT Outline: Alterations in Gastro-Intestinal Function. Complete Study Guide.

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Alterations in Gastro-Intestinal Function Functions of the Digestive Tract  Breakdown of food for digestion  Absorption of nutrients produced by digestion into the bloodstream  Eliminatio... n of undigested foodstuffs and other waste products Terms Digestion: phase of the digestive process that occurs when enzymes mix with ingested food and when proteins, fats, and sugars are broken down into their component molecules Absorption: phase of the digestive process that occurs when small molecules, vitamins, and minerals pass through the walls of the small and large intestine and into the bloodstream Elimination: phase of the digestive process that occurs after digestion and absorption when waste products are eliminated from the body Assessment—History  Include all information related to GI function (Things that we’re going to ask about): o Abdominal pain, dyspepsia, gas, nausea and vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, fecal continence, change in bowel patterns, characteristics of stool, jaundice, history of GI surgery or problems, appetite and eating patterns, teeth, and nutritional assessment (including weight patterns) o The idea is: You need to assess all the factors. What may be a normal bowel pattern to you is not necessarily normal for the next person & if they don’t present with any discomfort or issues, then it’s okay if they stray away from what we consider “normal bowel patters”  Psychosocial (which may include a HX of bulimia or anorexia) , spiritual, and cultural factors  Assess knowledge; need for patient education LN: We always want to to talk about history We want to include all information that is pertinent to our GI history when preforming our assessment We’re going to ask about: --Pain and where it’s located (important) -Dyspepsia ( [present differently in everyone]( sour taste in the mouth, indigestion, belching, [which goes alone with gas, but we refer to that as flatus & that’s different than belching], vomiting, constipation) --BIG ONE: Any changes in the bowel pattern? --Everyone is different, so you want to make sure you ask to get a baseline --Make sure you assess all the factors. It’s not that you should have a bowel movement everyday, but what is normal for that patient.. --You want to look at any jaundice, color, volume, consistency --Have they had any abdominal or GI surgery --Having a C-Section can expose one to GI adhesions, an ileus, abnormal sparring --Do they have an appetite/eating problems --Teeth problems --Unintended weight changes Purposes of Gastrointestinal Intubation  Decompress the stomach o Conditions that warrant resting the GI system  Lavage the stomach  Diagnose GI disorders o We may need to aspirate the contents for examination  Administer medications and feeding  To aspirate gastric contents for analysis  Lavage tubes-  Enteric tubes LN: They need a nasogastric tubes (NGT) Why do PT’s have NGT’s: --Esophageal Varicies --Dysphagia (Can’t swallow) --Decompression --When some one comes in and they have gastritis & they keep throwing up OR they have some other condition where we need to rest the GI system we will decompress. If we have a lower GI problem (like a blockage) we may have an NGT so that all of those things that are being swallowed (saliva, mucus) that stimulates the GI system, so we will give an NG tube to stop that swallowing. [Show More]

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