Module 2 Topic 2

Disorders of the Gastrointestinal System

​Case #1

A 75 y.o. woman presents to the emergency department with complaints of chest pain. Previous hospital records reveal her diagnostic procedure in the last hospitalization revealed a hiatal (sliding) hernia. She now reports excruciating pain and shortness of breath. She seems to be irritable and volatile. Her Vital Signs are: T=37.1, P=112 bpm, RR= 40 breaths/min, BP= 170/110 mmHg

​Case #2

An 18 y.o. teen pop idol was brought to the emergency unit due to difficulty swallowing. He reported to tried drinking water after his rehearsal but could not swallow and instead spilled all his drink on his clothes. He is suspected to have Achalasia. He seems to be anxious and gets agitated whenever a member of the HCT enters his room. He wants to screen all the members of the HCT and do not want any leakage to the media about his condition.

​Case #3

A 35 y.o., G4P3, 18 weeks AOG patient is brought to your unit with complaints of heartburn and indigestion. She is diagnosed with GERD.

During your rounds, she verbalized her worry that she might not be able to carry her unborn child to full term because of her condition. She seem to have been crying before you came.

​Case #4

A 27 y.o. male client was admitted to the unit, he was diagnosed with diffused esophageal spasm during his last hospitalization 2 months ago. His significant others claim that they are following the treatment regimen, however, they are worried that their patient seems to be losing weight. Upon physical examination, his BMI is 16.5, he reports that food would sometimes regurgitate during feeding.

​Excessive backflow of gastric or duodenal contents into the esophagus may occur because of an incompetent lower esophageal sphincter, pyloric stenosis, hiatal hernia, or motility disorder.

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GERD

​Case #3

A 35 y.o., G4P3, 18 weeks AOG patient is brought to your unit with complaints of heartburn and indigestion. She is diagnosed with GERD.

During your rounds, she verbalized her worry that she might not be able to carry her unborn child to full term because of her condition. She seem to have been crying before you came.

​The opening in the diaphragm through which the esophagus passes becomes enlarged, and part of the upper stomach tends to move up into the lower portion of the thorax.

Hiatal Hernia

​Case #1

A 75 y.o. woman presents to the emergency department with complaints of chest pain. Previous hospital records reveal her diagnostic procedure in the last hospitalization revealed a hiatal (sliding) hernia. She now reports excruciating pain and shortness of breath. She seems to be irritable and volatile. Her Vital Signs are: T=37.1, P=112 bpm, RR= 40 breaths/min, BP= 170/110 mmHg

​The lower esophageal sphincter (LES) does not effectively allow food to pass through.

Achalasia

​Case #2

An 18 y.o. teen pop idol was brought to the emergency unit due to difficulty swallowing. He reported to tried drinking water after his rehearsal but could not swallow and instead spilled all his drink on his clothes. He is suspected to have Achalasia. He seems to be anxious and gets agitated whenever a member of the HCT enters his room. He wants to screen all the members of the HCT and do not want any leakage to the media about his condition.

​A motor disorder of the esophagus. The cause is unknown, but stress may be a factor.

Diffuse Esophageal Spasm

​Case #4

A 27 y.o. male client was admitted to the unit, he was diagnosed with diffused esophageal spasm during his last hospitalization 2 months ago. His significant others claim that they are following the treatment regimen, however, they are worried that their patient seems to be losing weight. Upon physical examination, his BMI is 16.5, he reports that food would sometimes regurgitate during feeding.

Disorders of the Gastrointestinal System