Deck 36: Gastrointestinal Disorders

Question 1

A silent abdomen 3 hours after bowel surgery most likely indicates

A) peritonitis.
B) mechanical bowel obstruction.
C) perforated bowel.
D) functional bowel obstruction.

Answer 1

functional bowel obstruction.

Question 2

Constipation in an elderly patient can be best treated by

A) maintaining a low-fiber diet.
B) maintaining the current level of activity.
C) fecal disimpaction.
D) increasing fiber in the diet.

Answer 2

increasing fiber in the diet.

Question 3

A patient with chronic gastritis would likely be tested for

A) Helicobacter pylori.
B) occult blood.
C) lymphocytes.
D) herpes simplex.

Answer 3

Helicobacter pylori.

Question 4

A patient who should be routinely evaluated for peptic ulcer disease is one who is

A) taking six to eight tablets of acetaminophen per day.
B) being treated with high-dose oral glucocorticoids.
C) experiencing chronic diarrhea.
D) routinely drinking alcoholic beverages.

Question 5

Fecal leukocyte screening would be indicated in a patient with suspected

A) lactose intolerance.
B) enterocolitis.
C) laxative abuse.
D) giardiasis.

Question 6

Proton pump inhibitors may be used in the management of peptic ulcer disease to

A) increase gastric motility.
B) inhibit secretion of pepsinogen.
C) neutralize gastric acid.
D) decrease hydrochloric acid (HCl) secretion.

Question 7

Which symptom suggests the presence of a hiatal hernia?

A) Nausea
B) Heartburn
C) Diarrhea
D) Abdominal cramps

Question 8

Ulcerative colitis is commonly associated with

A) bloody diarrhea.
B) malabsorption of nutrients.
C) fistula formation between loops of bowel.
D) inflammation and scarring of the submucosal layer of the bowel.

Question 9

What clinical finding would suggest an esophageal cause of a client's report of dysphagia?

A) Nasal regurgitation
B) Airway obstruction with swallowing
C) Chest pain during meals
D) Coughing when swallowing

Question 10

Barrett esophagus is a

A) gastrin-secreting lesion.
B) preneoplastic lesion.
C) benign condition.
D) gastrin-secreting tumor.

Question 11

Celiac sprue is a malabsorptive disorder associated with

A) inflammatory reaction to gluten-containing foods.
B) megacolon at regions of autonomic denervation.
C) ulceration of the distal colon and rectum.
D) deficient production of pancreatic enzymes.

Question 12

An urgent surgical consult is indicated for the patient with acute abdominal pain and

A) vomiting.
B) CVA tenderness.
C) absent bowel sounds.
D) borborygmi.

Question 13

Epigastric pain that is relieved by food is suggestive of

A) pancreatitis.
B) cardiac angina.
C) gastric ulcer.
D) dysphagia.

Question 14

A patient receiving chemotherapy may be at greater risk for development of

A) gastroesophageal reflux.
B) stomatitis.
C) esophageal varices.
D) Mallory-Weiss syndrome.

Question 15

What finding should prompt further diagnostic testing in a child presenting with diarrhea?

A) Periumbilical discomfort
B) Greenish, watery diarrhea
C) Frequent, large-volume diarrhea
D) Blood and mucus in the stools

Question 16

Acute right lower quadrant pain associated with rebound tenderness and systemic signs of inflammation are indicative of

A) appendicitis.
B) peritonitis.
C) cholecystitis.
D) gastritis.

Question 17

What finding would rule out a diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome in a patient with chronic diarrhea?

A) Negative stool leukocytes
B) Intermittent constipation
C) Abdominal pain and distention
D) Bloody stools

Question 18

The most common cause of mechanical bowel obstruction is

A) volvulus.
B) intussusception.
C) adhesions.
D) fecal impaction.

Question 19

An early indicator of colon cancer is

A) rectal pain.
B) bloody diarrhea.
C) a change in bowel habits.
D) jaundice.

Question 20

Esophageal varices represent a complication of ________ hypertension.

A) primary
B) pregnancy-induced
C) portal
D) secondary

Question 21

Premature infants are at greater risk for developing

A) necrotizing enterocolitis.
B) pseudomembranous colitis.
C) appendicitis.
D) diverticular disease.

Question 22

Dumping syndrome is commonly seen after __________ procedures.

A) appendectomy
B) intestinal biopsy
C) colonoscopy
D) gastric bypass

Question 23

A disorder of the esophageal smooth muscle function where dysphagia is a symptom is (Select all that apply.)

A) esophageal stricture.
B) achalasia.
C) esophageal tumors.
D) Mallory-Weiss syndrome.
E) hiatal hernia.

Question 24

Rupture of esophageal varices is a complication of cirrhosis with portal hypertension and carries a high ________ rate.

A) cure
B) morbidity
C) insurance
D) mortality

Question 25

Crohn disease is associated with what complications? (Select all that apply.)

A) Perianal fissures
B) Fistulae
C) Green stool
D) Abscesses
E) Rectal pain

Question 26

What is a pathophysiologic mechanism involved in the development of diarrhea? (Select all that apply.)

A) Osmotic diarrhea
B) Excessive flatus
C) Secretory diarrhea
D) Exudative diarrhea
E) Motility disturbances