Gastrointestinal Tract Essay

DS is a 57-year-old white female whit a history of diverticulitis who presents to the clinic for an evaluation of abdominal pain. She stated that she began experiencing left lower quadrant pain last night that worsened through the night and into this morning. The pain is described as dull, occasionally cramping, rated 7/10 in severity. The patient also stated that this pain is similar to previous episodes of diverticulitis. The patient stated that she took Gas-X this morning with little relief. She was able to move her bowels yesterday and this morning, both reportedly normal. The patient denied any fever, chills, chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, melena, hematochezia, or any other symptoms. At this time, there were

Pathophysiology: Diverticulitis, is characterized by inflamed diverticuli and increased luminal pressures that cause erosion of the bowel wall and thus microscopic or macroscopic perforation into the peritoneum. A localized abscess develops when the

The name for these erosions is aphthous ulcers. These erosions, after a while, start to deepen and grow in diameter. Once they reach a certain size, they can be referred to as ulcers. These ulcers can cause scarring and they can also cause the bowel to become stiff and lose its elasticity. As Crohn’s worsens, the bowel becomes obstructed once the passageways narrow enough. This obstruction can cause a buildup of food that is still being digested, fluid and gas that comes from the stomach. This obstruction will then prevent all of those products from entering into the colon. This will cause severe abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and even abdominal distention. If the ulcers located in the walls of the bowel become large or extreme enough, holes can form in the walls of the bowel. Once those holes are formed in the bowel, the bacteria normal to the bowel can then pass through those holes and spread to nearby organs and into the abdominal cavity causing what are called fistulas. These fistulas are like a channel/tunnel that is formed between the ulcer and the adjacent organ. Then when a fistula is created between the affected intestine and the bladder, it is called an enteric-vesicular fistula which can lead to UTI’s and feces being presented during urination. Next, when the fistula is formed between the intestine and skin, it is called an enteric-cutaneous fistula. What this fistula, pus and mucous exit the body through a painful opening found in the skin of the

I watched a laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy performed to treat a perforation in the large intestines caused by chronic diverticulitis at Sacred Heart Hospital. Diverticula are small pockets that form in the intestinal wall, typically in the sigmoid and descending colon. In the patient I observed, the diverticula of the sigmoid colon had become infected and ruptured, perforating, putting a hole in, the large intestine. The patient had severe left lower quadrant pain that radiated across the abdomen, exacerbated by palpation. The infection and perforation resulted in peritonitis, or the inflammation of the abdominal wall, which caused this tenderness. Without surgical intervention, the patient would likely have died. After waiting for a

Diverticulosis remains asymptomatic in most cases. In few cases, the diverticulitis occur. The process is discussed by Van Buren and Fisher (2017) as follow: feces will fill the diverticulosis and provides an environment that facilitate bacterial overgrowth. These result irritations which can cause inflammation or microperforations, which lead to infection and abscess formation by allowing bacteria invasive the colonic wall. The diverticulitis can be complicated or uncomplicated. Uncomplicated diverticulitis characterized by local infection and inflammations. If the localized infection or abscess infiltrates into adjacent organs or viscera or cause obstruction, it is considered complicated diverticulitis. The typical bacterial involved are

Diverticulitis occurs when, for unknown reasons, a diverticulum, usually in the left colon, bursts, leaking bacteria-rich feces into the peritoneum. The resulting diverticulitis is usually confined to the surface of the adjacent colon, producing an acute illness characterized by severe abdominal pain in the left lower part of the abdomen, fever, and prostration. The treatment usually consists of fluids, bed rest, and antibiotics. Some cases require hospital admission[1].

Generally, these pouches fill with an assorted grouping of bacteria and become very infected and irritated, leading to intense pain and suffering. The colon is not meant to have to work that hard to push through weak stool. In the medical world, scientists and doctors have yet to find a definitive cause or source of the malady, and can only posit basic theories, one of which suggesting a lack of fiber is the root. These negative effects can be made worse by certain foods of course, so a particular diet plan is important in order to stave off the agony. The symptoms of Diverticulitis begin with the pain, yet they extend farther then that, with individuals reporting lack of appetite, diarrhea, bloating, fevers, and vomiting. It is truly a consortium of unpleasant

In some cases, the diverticula become infected, leading to inflammation, and an increased risk for rupture, which leads to bleed. Perforation leads to alterations in the patient’s hemoglobin and hematocrit, alterations in bowel function, tenderness, and guarding.

Diverticula many times happen when outpouchings becomes blocked with waste, this allows for bacteria to build up and cause an infection. Diverticula can cause bleeding which can be painless; meanwhile, also effect weakness of the Vasa Recta. Diverticula can be a chronic condition which varies among geography region. More than half the population in the United Kingdom will be diagnosed with Diverticula by the age 50. The United States has a 20% increase of acute diverticula disease between the years of 1998-2005. On the other hand, the United States age range for this condition is 18-44 years. That’s 82% of the population men under 50 years of age are more likely than female to have this condition. Female’s age range for this condition is 50-70

Inflammation occurs in rectum and sigmoid colon. Symptoms include bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps and pain.

The main focus here is acute diverticulitis. Its clinical presentation depends on the severity of the inflammation or the presence of infection. The most common signs and symptoms are pain in the LLQ of the abdomen, fever, and leukocytosis (Strate et al., 2015). Other signs and symptoms include nausea, vomiting, constipation or loose stool, palpable mass, and stool occult blood (McQuaid, 2017).

The primary function of the digestive system is to transfer nutrients, water, and electrolytes from the food consume into the body’s internal environment. The ingested food is essential as an energy source, or fuel, from which the cells can generate ATP to carry out their particular energy-dependent activities such as contraction, transport, synthesis, secretion and even renewal of body tissues. Three primary categories of food ingested by humans which are carbohydrates, proteins and fats emerge as large molecules. These large molecules cannot cross plasma membranes intact to be absorbed from the lumen of the digestive tract into the blood or lymph; hence, it must undergo degradation in size (Sherwood, 2013). This

One symptom that is not definite, but may help decide what form of IBD is present, is where the pain in the abdomen is located. Typically Ulcerative Colitis patients experience pain in the lower left section of the abdomen, while Crohn’s Disease patients tend to suffer from pain in the lower right section of the abdomen. “With Ulcerative Colitis, bleeding from the rectum during bowel movements is very common, and bleeding is much less common in patients with Crohn’s Disease.” (Tresca, 2009)

The digestive systems organs work together to help the body turn food into nutrients and energy. Food passes through the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract). The GI tract is made up of the oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestines, and large intestines. There are accessory organs that do not have food pass through them but those organs help with the digestive system. They include the teeth, tongue, salivary glands, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas. The six major functions need to happen in the digestive system and they are ingestion, secretion, mixing and movement, digestion, absorption, and excretion. (Taylor)

The gastrointestinal disease can be avoided by the individual need not eat right, exercise, drink plenty of water, and take supplementary to keep the hemorrhoids down. Taking stool softeners will soften up the bowels, that way it will be easy to pass and not put pressure on the veins of the rectum. Adding fiber to his or her diet can help as well, with the fruits and water. However, the factors that will make the lifestyle difficult to change is when a person has done this habit is hard to break. For instance, if a person always eats spicy and greasy foods, then switching to fruits and foods which are high in fiber can be tough. Another is trying to get a person to drink water, instead of drinking plenty of sugar intakes of the body. If an individual has not been taking his or her vitamins or supplements, can be difficult by just eating foods which are not good for a person. An individual can overcome this factor by increasing the fiber, by eating gluten free foods. ("Solutions For Hemorrhoids", 2014) “Drink plenty of water and fluids, apple cider vinegar, take Livatone Plus, vitamin c, vitamin e, creams, salt water bath, exercise, and avoid straining during bowel movements.” Choosing lifestyle instead of prescription medication, due to the medication can have plenty of side effects. An individual can have an ("Hemorrhoids Condition", 1998-2016) “allergic reaction, inflammation”,