NCLEX Review & Nursing School

DIVERTICULITIS

an inflammation in the diverticula, a sac like outpouching of the large intestine.

• INFLAMMATION IS USUALLY CAUSED BY TRAPPING OF FOOD.

Assessment:

• BOWEL IRREGULARITIES, CRAMPING PAIN THAT IS USUALLY IN THE LEFT LOWER QUADRANT OF THE ABDOMEN AND A LOW GRADE FEVER, CAN OCCUR.

Diagnostics

• BARIUM STUDIES AND AN ENDOSCOPY EXAM.

REMEMBER FOR THE NCLEX:

• A BARIUM ENEMA IS CONTRAINDICATED IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE DIVERTICULITIS DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF PERFORATION OF THE DIVERTICULUM.
• A COLONOSCOPY IS ALSO CONTRAINDICATED WITH THESE PATIENTS.
• MORPHINE IS NOT GIVE TO THESE PATIENTS DUE TO INTRALUMENAL PRESSURE.

Treatments includes:

• INCREASING THE DIETARY INTAKE OF SOFT FIBER FOODS AND THE INCREASE OF FLUID INTAKE (2-3 LITERS PER DAY) MAKE SURE THAT IT IS WITHIN LIMITS.
• LOW FIBER DIET IS GIVE TO PATIENTS.

Medications:

GASTROINTESTINAL DRUG

• -TIDINE = ANTIULCER
• -PRAZOLE = PPI’S
• -SONE = GLUCOCORTICOID, CORTICOSTEROID

• ANTIBIOTICS
• ANALGESICS (TALWIN)
• FIBER LAXATIVES (METAMUCIL)

INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASES:

• CHRON’S DISEASE
• ULCERATIVE COLITIS