Deck 36: Gastrointestinal Disorders

Question 1

Which of the following findings 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

Answer 1

Blood and mucus in the stools

Question 2

Combined dysphagia with both solids and liquids is typical of

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

Answer 2

achalasia.

Question 3

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

A) taking 6 to 8 tablets of acetaminophen per day.
B) being treated with high-dose oral glucocorticoids.
C) experiencing work-related stress.
D) routinely drinking alcoholic beverages.

Answer 3

being treated with high-dose oral glucocorticoids.

Question 4

Which of the following clinical findings would suggest an esophageal rather than an oropharyngeal cause of dysphagia?

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

Question 5

Long-term use of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory medications and infection with Helicobacter pylori are causative factors in peptic ulcer disease.

Question 6

A reduction in lower esophageal sphincter tone helps reduce gastroesophageal reflux.

Question 7

Esophagitis pain is similar in location and pattern to myocardial chest pain.

Question 8

Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis are two types of irritable bowel syndrome.

Question 9

A silent abdomen 3 hours after bowel surgery most likely indicates

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

Question 10

A Barrett esophagus is

A) best managed with H₂ antagonists.
B) a preneoplastic lesion.
C) a benign condition.
D) a 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

Which of the following symptoms suggests the presence of a hiatal hernia?

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

Question 13

The most common cause of mechanical bowel obstruction is

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

Question 14

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 15

Epigastric pain that is relieved by food is suggestive of

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

Question 16

Diverticulitis usually is asymptomatic.

Question 17

An early indicator of colon cancer is

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

Question 18

In which of the following cases would it be inappropriate to manage dyspepsia with an empiric trial of an H₂ blocker?

A) Concomitant dysphagia
B) Chronic use of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs
C) Dyspepsia occurring after meals
D) Dyspepsia relieved by meals

Question 19

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 20

Histamine antagonists 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 21

Match the following disorders with the descriptions below.
Difficulty swallowing

A)Dysphagia
B)Achalasia
C)Odynophagia
D)Diverticulosis
E)Encopresis

Question 22

Match the following disorders with the descriptions below.
Absence of peristalsis in a portion of the esophagus

A)Dysphagia
B)Achalasia
C)Odynophagia
D)Diverticulosis
E)Encopresis

Question 23

Match the following disorders with the descriptions below.
Herniations in the bowel wall

A)Dysphagia
B)Achalasia
C)Odynophagia
D)Diverticulosis
E)Encopresis

Question 24

Match the following disorders with the descriptions below.
Painful swallowing

A)Dysphagia
B)Achalasia
C)Odynophagia
D)Diverticulosis
E)Encopresis

Question 25

Which of the following findings 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 26

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

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

Question 27

Fecal leukocyte screening would be indicated in a patient with suspected

A) lactose intolerance.
B) inflammatory bowel disease.
C) laxative abuse.
D) giardiasis.

Question 28

Match the following disorders with the descriptions below.
Stasis and involuntary leakage of stool

A)Dysphagia
B)Achalasia
C)Odynophagia
D)Diverticulosis
E)Encopresis