Unit 4 Discussion

Digestive Function

Read the following case study and answer the posed questions

Case #1:  A 64-year-old man presents to the emergency department (Links to an external site.) with abdominal pain and distention, as well as constipation of 8 days’ duration. He denies vomiting, fever, diarrhea, or dysuria. Except for hypertension, he is otherwise healthy with no prior surgeries.

His vital signs are normal except for a borderline pulse of 99 bpm. His physical examination is unremarkable except for his abdomen, which is large, rotund, and tympanitic. There is diffuse tenderness everywhere in the abdomen.

What history would you want to obtain?

What differential diagnoses would you consider?

List and describe the specific diagnostic tests you might order to determine cause of his concern?

Case #2:

Kyle is a 58-year-old man who is experiencing lower abdominal discomfort nausea and diarrhea lasting 2 days. He thought he had eaten something that “disturbed his stomach” but since this has lasted so long, he is afraid it’s something serious.

As you obtain a history from this patient what differential diagnoses are you considering. Give rational for your choices.

Discuss the pathophysiologic relationship between nausea and vomiting?

Three days after Kyle’s initial visit his labs confirmed a diagnosis of cirrhosis.

Discuss the pathophysiologic relationship between cirrhosis and portal hypertension.

Cite current research findings, national guidelines, and expert opinions and controversies found in the medical and nursing literature to support your position and suggestions.

Responses need to address all components of the question, demonstrate critical thinking and analysis, and include peer reviewed journal evidence to support the student’s position.

Please be sure to validate your opinions and ideas with citations and references in APA format.

Please review the rubric to ensure that your response meets the criteria.

Estimated time to complete: 2 hours

Discussion Peer/Participation Prompt [Due Sunday]

Please respond to at least 2 of your peer’s posts.  To ensure that your responses are substantive, use at least three of these prompts:

Do you agree with your peers’ diagnosis?

Take an alternate view and offer a potential alternate approach.

Share your thoughts on how you support their opinion and explain why.

Present new references that support your opinions.

Responses need to address all components of the question, demonstrate critical thinking and analysis, and include peer reviewed journal evidence to support the student’s position. Herzing NU621 Unit 4 Discussion Advanced Pathophysiology

 

MORE INFO 

Discuss the pathophysiologic relationship between nausea and vomiting?

Introduction

Nausea and vomiting are common symptoms of many conditions. The pathophysiologic relationship between nausea and vomiting is complex but can be explained by the following:

Nausea and vomiting are mediated by the emetic center located in the central nervous system.

Nausea and vomiting are mediated by the emetic center located in the central nervous system. The emetic center is a collection of neurons that respond to stimuli that cause nausea and vomiting. It has been shown to be activated by electrical stimulation of chemoreceptors, mechanoreceptors (e.g., vertical semicircular canal), vestibular nuclei (which sense rotation), hypothalamus (which detects changes in body position), and vagal nerve innervating abdominal organs such as duodenum/pancreas; it also responds when you look at something disgusting or think about food going down your throat!

The pathophysiology behind these responses involves several different areas of your brain:

The emetic center receives input from various sources including the vestibular nuclei, chemoreceptors, and mechanoreceptors.

The emetic center receives input from various sources including the vestibular nuclei, chemoreceptors, and mechanoreceptors. The vestibular nuclei are located in the brainstem; they are thought to be involved in nausea and vomiting by monitoring movement of the head and body (as well as other cues). Chemoreceptors located in your gastrointestinal tract can detect changes in pH or chemicals such as acetone. Mechanoreceptors located in your gastrointestinal tract respond to stretch or pressure applied by food being moved through your intestines

These inputs are integrated with other areas of the brain such as the cerebral cortex, hypothalamus, limbic system, and periaqueductal gray area.

Nausea and vomiting are complex behaviors that depend on the integration of sensory inputs. The brain’s cortex is involved in cognitive processing, while the hypothalamus is involved in autonomic reflexes and endocrine responses.

In addition to these areas of the brain, another important input comes from the periaqueductal gray area (PAG), which coordinates signals between different parts of your body to manage pain sensations and other bodily functions such as blood pressure regulation or hunger control.

The cerebral cortex processes information from these various sources and integrates sensory inputs into a cognitive understanding of what is being experienced.

The cerebral cortex is involved in sensory processing, which helps you perceive your environment. It also integrates sensory information into a cognitive understanding of what is being experienced. In addition, the cerebral cortex modulates autonomic reflexes and endocrine responses to nausea and vomiting.

The hypothalamus is involved in integrating autonomic reflexes and modulating endocrine responses to nausea and vomiting.

The hypothalamus is involved in integrating autonomic reflexes and modulating endocrine responses to nausea and vomiting. The amygdala and hippocampus are implicated in emotional responses to pain, whereas the prefrontal cortex plays a role in pain perception and regulation.

In addition to its role as a sensor for detecting changes in internal body temperature (e.g., fever), heat production by the hypothalamus can also affect our perception of cold temperatures; this phenomenon is called hypothermia or shivers due to cold exposure.

The periaqueductal gray area is involved in modulation of pain perception and pain responses to antiemetics.

The periaqueductal gray area is involved in modulation of pain perception and pain responses to antiemetics. This area is a part of the brainstem, which is located between your spinal cord and your dura mater (the outer layer of your skull). It controls many functions including:

• Pain perception – this area processes signals sent from nerves that travel through this region; when it receives these signals, it will send them to other parts of your brain so that you can experience pain or discomfort.

• Antiemetic response – this region also plays an important role in controlling vomiting by activating certain neurons that produce chloride channels on their surface. Chloride channels are responsible for allowing chloride ions into cells (like those found inside our stomachs), causing them to pump out fluids or change shape within those cells’ walls – thus making room for other substances such as food particles or water molecules without causing damage due either being too big/heavy for them not being able fit through openings within membranes surrounding cells themselves; however if there aren’t enough resources present then instead we might try converting ourselves into something else like sugar since although both would require energy sources but sugar has fewer calories than milk because milk contains fats whereas sugar doesn’t contain anything at all!

The limbic system controls emotionally driven responses to nauseating stimuli.

The limbic system is a collection of brain structures that includes the amygdala (the fear center), hippocampus (the memory center), thalamus (which relays sensory information to other parts of the brain), hypothalamus and related structures.

The limbic system plays an important role in regulating emotions as well as body processes such as hunger/satiety, thirst, sex drive and sleep-wake cycles. It also controls our response to stimuli like nausea or vomiting by sending out signals that trigger nausea responses in other parts of our bodies such as our mouth or throat causing us to retch when we think about food even though it’s not there yet!

Conclusion

In summary, nausea and vomiting are mediated by the emetic center located in the central nervous system. The emetic center receives input from various sources including the vestibular nuclei, chemoreceptors, and mechanoreceptors. These inputs are integrated with other areas of the brain such as the cerebral cortex, hypothalamus, limbic system, and periaqueductal gray area. The cerebral cortex processes information from these various sources and integrates sensory inputs into a cognitive understanding of what is being experienced. The hypothalamus is involved in integrating autonomic reflexes and modulating endocrine responses to nausea and vomiting.