Chapter 50: Assessment and Management of Patients With Biliary Disorders

A client has a nasogastric (NG) tube for suction and is NPO after a pancreaticoduodenectomy. Which explanation made by the nurse is the major purpose of this treatment? "The tube helps control fluid and electrolyte imbalance." "The tube provides relief from nausea and vomiting." "The tube allows the gastrointestinal tract to rest." "The tube allows toxins to be removed."

"The tube allows the gastrointestinal tract to rest."' Postoperative management of clients who have undergone a pancreatectomy or a pancreaticoduodenectomy is similar to the management of clients after extensive gastrointestinal or biliary surgery. An NG tube with suction and parenteral nutrition allow the gastrointestinal tract to rest while promoting adequate nutrition.

Pharmacologic therapy frequently is used to dissolve small gallstones. It takes about how many months of medication with UDCA or CDCA for stones to dissolve? 1 to 2 3 to 5 6 to 12 13 to 18

6 to 12 Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA [URSO, Actigall]) and chenodeoxycholic acid (chenodiol or CDCA [Chenix]) have been used to dissolve small, radiolucent gallstones composed primarily of cholesterol. Six to 12 months of therapy are required in many clients to dissolve stones, and monitoring of the client for recurrence of symptoms or occurrence of side effects (e.g., GI symptoms, pruritus, headache) is required during this time.

A client is evaluated for severe pain in the right upper abdominal quadrant, which is accompanied by nausea and vomiting. The physician diagnoses acute cholecystitis and cholelithiasis. For this client, which nursing diagnosis takes top priority? Acute pain related to biliary spasms Deficient knowledge related to prevention of disease recurrence Anxiety related to unknown outcome of hospitalization Imbalanced nutrition: Less than body requirements related to biliary inflammation

Acute pain related to biliary spasms The chief symptom of cholecystitis is abdominal pain or biliary colic. Typically, the pain is so severe that the client is restless and changes positions frequently to find relief. Therefore, the nursing diagnosis of Acute pain related to biliary spasms takes highest priority. Until the acute pain is relieved, the client can't learn about prevention, may continue to experience anxiety, and can't address nutritional concerns.

A client with a history of alcohol abuse comes to the emergency department and complains of abdominal pain. Laboratory studies help confirm a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis. The client's vital signs are stable, but the client's pain is worsening and radiating to his back. Which intervention takes priority for this client? Placing the client in a semi-Fowler's position Maintaining nothing-by-mouth (NPO) status Administering morphine I.V. as ordered Providing mouth care

Administering morphine I.V. as ordered The nurse should address the client's pain issues first by administering morphine I.V. as ordered. Placing the client in a Semi-Fowler's position, maintaining NPO status, and providing mouth care don't take priority over addressing the client's pain issues.

Management of a patient with ascites includes nutritional modifications and diuretic therapy. Which of the following interventions would a nurse expect to be part of patient care? Select all that apply. Aldactone, an aldosterone-blocking agent would be used. Zaroxolyn would be the thiazide diuretic of choice. A daily weight change of 0.5 pounds would require health care provider notification. Daily salt intake would be restricted to 2 grams or less. The diuretic will be held if the serum sodium level decreases to <134 m Eq/L.

Aldactone, an aldosterone-blocking agent would be used. Daily salt intake would be restricted to 2 grams or less. The diuretic will be held if the serum sodium level decreases to <134 m Eq/L. Lasix, a loop diuretic, combined with Aldactone is the most effective regimen to control ascites. The serum sodium level should not drop below 134 mEq/L. A daily weight change of 1.1 lb (those without peripheral edema) or 2.2 lbs (those with peripheral edema) should be reported.

The nurse is planning care for a client following an incisional cholecystectomy for cholelithiasis. Which intervention is the highest nursing priority for this client? Assisting the client to turn, cough, and deep breathe every 2 hours Teaching the client to choose low-fat foods from the menu Performing range-of-motion (ROM) leg exercises hourly while the client is awake Assisting the client to ambulate the evening of the operative day

Assisting the client to turn, cough, and deep breathe every 2 hours Assessment should focus on the client's respiratory status. If a traditional surgical approach is planned, the high abdominal incision required during surgery may interfere with full respiratory excursion. The other nursing actions are also important, but are not as high a priority as ensuring adequate ventilation.

A 70-year-old client is admitted with acute pancreatitis. The nurse understands that the mortality rate associated with acute pancreatitis increases with advanced age and attributes this to which gerontologic consideration associated with the pancreas? Decreases in the physiologic function of major organs Increases in the bicarbonate output by the kidneys Increases in the rate of pancreatic secretion Development of local complications

Decreases in the physiologic function of major organs Acute pancreatitis affects people of all ages, but the mortality rate associated with acute pancreatitis increases with advancing age. The pattern of complications changes with age. Younger clients tend to develop local complications; the incidence of multiple organ failure increases with age, possibly as a result of progressive decreases in physiologic function of major organs with increasing age.

A client is admitted to the healthcare facility suspected of having acute pancreatitis and undergoes laboratory testing. Which of the following would the nurse expect to find? Increased serum calcium levels Elevated urine amylase levels Decreased liver enzyme levels Decreased white blood cell count

Elevated urine amylase levels Elevated serum and urine amylase, lipase, and liver enzyme levels accompany significant pancreatitis. If the common bile duct is obstructed, the bilirubin level is above normal. Blood glucose levels and white blood cell counts can be elevated. Serum electrolyte levels (calcium, potassium, and magnesium) are low.

When the nurse is caring for a patient with acute pancreatitis, what intervention can be provided in order to prevent atelectasis and prevent pooling of respiratory secretions? Frequent changes of positions Placing the patient in the prone position Perform chest physiotherapy Suction the patient every 4 hours

Frequent changes of positions Frequent changes of position are necessary to prevent atelectasis and pooling of respiratory secretions

A nurse is preparing a client for surgery. During preoperative teaching, the client asks where is bile stored. The nurse knows that bile is stored in the: Cystic duct Duodenum Gallbladder Common bile duct

Gallbladder The gallbladder functions as a storage depot for bile.

A client with suspected biliary obstruction due to gallstones reports changes to the color of his stools. Which stool color does the nurse recognize as common to biliary obstruction? Gray Black Red Green

Gray A gray-white stool color is common with a biliary obstruction because the stool is no longer colored with bile pigments.

Clinical manifestations of common bile duct obstruction include all of the following except: Light-colored urine Clay-colored feces Pruritus Jaundice

Light-colored urine The excretion of the bile pigments by the kidneys gives the urine a very dark color. The feces, no longer colored with bile pigments, are grayish, like putty, or clay-colored. The symptoms may be acute or chronic. Epigastric distress, such as fullness, abdominal distention, and vague pain in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen, may occur. If it goes untreated jaundice and pruritus can occur.

Which enzyme aids in the digestion of fats? Lipase Amylase Secretin Trypsin

Lipase Lipase is a pancreatic enzyme that aids in the digestion of fats. Amylase aids in the digestion of carbohydrates. Secretin is responsible for stimulating secretion of pancreatic juice. Trypsin aids in the digestion of protein.

A critical care nurse is caring for a client with acute pancreatitis. One potentially severe complication involves the respiratory system. Which of the following would be an appropriate intervention to prevent complications associated with the respiratory system? Maintain the client in a semi-Fowler's position. Administer enteral or parenteral nutrition. Carry out wound care as prescribed. Withhold oral feedings.

Maintain the client in a semi-Fowler's position. The nurse maintains the client in the semi-Fowler's position to decrease pressure on the diaphragm by a distended abdomen and to increase respiratory expansion. Respiratory distress and hypoxia are common, and the client may develop diffuse pulmonary infiltrates, dyspnea, tachypnea, and abnormal blood gas values. The client who has undergone surgery may have multiple drains or an open surgical incision and is at risk for skin breakdown and infection. Oral food or fluid intake is not permitted; therefore, enteral or parenteral feedings may be prescribed.

A client with acute pancreatitis has been started on total parenteral nutrition (TPN). Which action should the nurse perform after administration of the TPN? Auscultate the abdomen for bowel sounds every 4 hours Measure abdominal girth every shift Monitor for reports of nausea and vomiting Measure blood glucose concentration every 4 to 6 hours

Measure blood glucose concentration every 4 to 6 hours Enteral or parenteral nutrition may be prescribed. In addition to administering enteral or parenteral nutrition, the nurse monitors the serum glucose concentration every 4 to 6 hours.

A client diagnosed with acute pancreatitis is being transferred to another facility. The nurse caring for the client completes the transfer summary, which includes information about the client's drinking history and other assessment findings. Which assessment findings confirm the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis? Pain with abdominal distention and hypotension Presence of blood in the client's stool and recent hypertension Presence of easy bruising and bradycardia Adventitious breath sounds and hypertension

Pain with abdominal distention and hypotension Assessment findings associated with pancreatitis include pain with abdominal distention and hypotension. Blood in stools and recent hypertension aren't associated with pancreatitis; fatty diarrhea and hypotension are usually present. Presence of easy bruising and bradycardia aren't found with pancreatitis; the client typically experiences tachycardia, not bradycardia. Adventitious breath sounds and hypertension aren't associated with pancreatitis.

A client is admitted to the health care facility with abdominal pain, a low-grade fever, abdominal distention, and weight loss. The physician diagnoses acute pancreatitis. What is the primary goal of nursing care for this client? Relieving abdominal pain Preventing fluid volume overload Maintaining adequate nutritional status Teaching about the disease and its treatment

Relieving abdominal pain

A patient with acute pancreatitis puts the call bell on to tell the nurse about an increase in pain. The nurse observes the patient guarding; the abdomen is board-like and no bowel sounds are detected. What is the major concern for this patient? The patient requires more pain medication. The patient is developing a paralytic ileus. The patient has developed peritonitis. The patient has developed renal failure.

The patient has developed peritonitis. Abdominal guarding is present. A rigid or board-like abdomen may develop and is generally an ominous sign, usually indicating peritonitis (Privette et al., 2011).

The nurse is caring for a patient with acute pancreatitis. The patient has an order for an anticholinergic medication. The nurse explains that the patient will be receiving that medication for what reason? To decrease metabolism To depress the central nervous system and increase the pain threshold To reduce gastric and pancreatic secretions To relieve nausea and vomiting

To reduce gastric and pancreatic secretions Anticholinergic medications reduce gastric and pancreatic secretion.

The digestion of carbohydrates is aided by lipase. amylase. trypsin. secretin.

amylase. Amylase is secreted by the exocrine pancreas. Lipase aids in the digestion of fats. Trypsin aids in the digestion of proteins. Secretin is the major stimulus for increased bicarbonate secretion from the pancreas.

Total parental nutrition (TPN) should be used cautiously in clients with pancreatitis because such clients: cannot tolerate high-glucose concentration. are at risk for gallbladder contraction. are at risk for hepatic encephalopathy. can digest high-fat foods.

cannot tolerate high-glucose concentration. Total parental nutrition (TPN) is used carefully in clients with pancreatitis because some clients cannot tolerate a high-glucose concentration even with insulin coverage. Intake of coffee increases the risk for gallbladder contraction, whereas intake of high protein increases risk for hepatic encephalopathy in clients with cirrhosis. Patients with pancreatitis should not be given high-fat foods because they are difficult to digest.