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19: Gastrointestinal System and Disorders

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    111162
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    • 19.0: Introduction
      The gastrointestinal (GI) system, also known as the digestive system, plays crucial roles such as digestion, absorption, elimination, and immune response. It breaks down food and absorbs nutrients into the bloodstream, which are essential for growth, energy, and bodily processes. Disorders affecting the digestive system's function can significantly impact health and well-being and elevate the risk of chronic conditions. Proper nutrition is vital for overall health.
    • 19.1: Nutritional Disorders
      The section focuses on the pathophysiology, risk factors, diagnostics, and treatment of obesity, anorexia nervosa, and malabsorption. It discusses how dietary habits impact health and how various disorders require specific nursing care and medical therapies. Obesity is linked to behavioral, genetic, and social risk factors and may require behavioral interventions, medications, or surgery. Anorexia involves severe dietary restriction, requiring careful nursing care, and possibly therapy.
    • 19.2: Disorders of the Oral Cavity
      This page provides an overview of oral cavity disorders, focusing on dental caries, oral cancer, and temporomandibular disorders. It outlines learning objectives for understanding the pathophysiology, diagnostics, and management of these conditions. Key points include the causes, clinical manifestations, prevention, and care strategies related to dental caries, oral cancer, and TMD.
    • 19.3: Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition
      The section outlines the indications and administration of parenteral and enteral nutrition, the role of nurses in the process, and the types of enteral feeding tubes. Parenteral nutrition involves intravenous solutions when the digestive tract is compromised, while enteral nutrition uses tubes for feeding when oral intake is insufficient.
    • 19.4: Disorders of the Upper GI System
      This section covers upper GI disorders, including Barrett's esophagus, gastritis, and gastric cancer. It outlines the pathophysiology, risk factors, clinical manifestations, diagnostics, and treatment for each condition. Nursing care for patients with these disorders emphasizes symptom management, education, and interventions such as dietary modifications and medications like proton pump inhibitors.
    • 19.5: Disorders of the Lower GI System
      This page provides an in-depth overview of various lower gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, including their pathophysiology, risk factors, clinical manifestations, diagnostics, and treatment options. Specifically, it details conditions like constipation, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), celiac disease, colorectal cancer, appendicitis, diverticular disease, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
    • 19.6: Hepatic and Biliary Disorders
      This section covers hepatic and biliary disorders, their pathophysiology, risk factors, diagnostics, and nursing care. It discusses liver functions, manifestations like jaundice and ascites, treatments including TIPS and liver transplant, and disorders such as cirrhosis and hepatitis. Liver disease management involves identifying the cause, monitoring lab values, nutrition, and treatment compliance.
    • 19.7: Ostomy Care
      This page provides a comprehensive overview of ostomy care, focusing on the nursing roles before and after surgery for patients with colostomies or ileostomies. It addresses preoperative education, postoperative care, and emotional support, highlighting the nurse's responsibilities in monitoring stoma health, preventing skin breakdown, and ensuring patient education and emotional well-being.
    • 19.8: Summary
      This page covers various topics related to nutritional and gastrointestinal disorders. It discusses the impact of diet on health, obesity, and anorexia nervosa, emphasizing the importance of nutritional balance and treatment approaches such as behavioral interventions and surgery. Disorders of the oral cavity, including dental caries and TMD, are addressed, along with the significance of parenteral and enteral nutrition for patients with GI dysfunction.
    • 19.9: Key Terms
      This page contains medical definitions for various conditions, disorders, and terms related to the gastrointestinal system and general health. Definitions cover a range of topics from eating disorders like anorexia nervosa to surgical procedures like appendectomy and ostomy. It also includes explanations of diseases, hormones, medical scores, and nutritional methods.
    • 19.10: Assessments
    • 19.11: References
      This page contains a comprehensive list of medical and health-related references, covering topics such as enteric feedings, colostomy care, various types of cancer, liver disease, obesity, digestive disorders, and dental health, sourced from StatPearls, the American Cancer Society, the CDC, and other reputable medical organizations.


    This page titled 19: Gastrointestinal System and Disorders is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by OpenStax.

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