NR 603 Week 6 Collaboration Cafe_Clinical Education Associates CEA Pre-Diagnostic Case Study Part 1.

24 hours ago. She also admitted to having 2 episodes of bright red loose stools. ❖ Analyze associated risk factors/demographics that contribute to the chief complaint and differential diagnoses ❖ Associated risk factors: • Age: The aging process leads to significant changes in the gastrointestinal system, which affect various aspects such as the mechanical breakdown of food, gastrointestinal motility, the transit time of food through the digestive tract, the integrity of the intestinal wall, and the biochemical processes involved in digestion (Cristina & Lucia, 2021). These physiological changes gradually reduce the body's ability to absorb essential nutrients effectively. Additionally, aging is associated with structural and functional impairments in the ❖ Three Differential Diagnosis: • Diverticulosis: - A condition characterized by forming small pouches (diverticula) in the colon's wall. - Often associated with low-fiber diets, age, and increased pressure in the colon. It may be asymptomatic or cause mild abdominal pain - Complications can lead to more severe diverticulitis. It may be asymptomatic or cause mild abdominal pain. - Colonoscopy: This is the gold standard for diagnosis. It allows direct visualization of the diverticula and assessment of the colon's overall health. The AGA recommends performing a colonoscopy in cases of acute diverticulosis for suitable candidates to rule out the misdiagnosis of a colonic neoplasm if a thorough colon examination has not been conducted recently (Stollman et al., 2020). - CT scan: A CT of the abdomen and pelvis due to its sensitivity for detecting diverticula than traditional X-rays. - Ultrasound - Laboratory Tests: Complete blood count (CBC) • Gastroenteritis: - Inflammation of the stomach and intestines, typically caused by infections (viral, bacterial, or parasitic). - Commonly caused by contaminated food or water or exposure to infected individuals. - Symptoms: Sudden onset of diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, abdominal cramps, and sometimes fever. - Stool cultures and tests for specific pathogens (e.g., rotavirus, norovirus, Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter) can be indicated. - Imaging: Generally, not needed unless atypical symptoms or complications are suspected. • Irritable Bowe l Syndrome (IBS): - A functional gastrointestinal disorder involving abdominal pain and altered bowel habits without any identifiable physical disease. - Triggers can include specific foods, stress, and gut motility issues; the exact cause is unclear. - Symptoms: Cramping, changes in bowel habits (diarrhea, constipation, or a mix), and bloating are common. References: Cristina, N. M., & Lucia, D. (2021). Nutrition and healthy aging: Prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. Nutrients, 13(12), 4337. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13124337 Stollman, N., Smalley, W., Hirano, I., Adams, M. A., Dorn, S. D., Dudley-Brown, S. L., Flamm, S. L., Gellad, Z. F., Gruss, C. B., Kosinski, L. R., Lim, J. K., Romero, Y., Rubenstein, J. H., Smalley, W. E., Sultan, S., Weinberg, D. S., & Yang, Y. (2020). American Gastroenterological Association institute guideline on the management of acute diverticulitis. Gastroenterology, 149(7), 1944- 1949. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2015.10.003