Providing Care for

Patients Gastro-
intestinal System
Disorders

1 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Anatomic and
Physiologic
Overview
of the
Gastro-intestinal
Tract
2 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025
 Anatomy of the
Gastro-intestinal Tract
The GI tract is a 23- to 26-foot (7-8m) long pathway that
extends from the mouth through the esophagus, stomach,
and intestines to the anus.
The esophagus is located in the mediastinum in the thoracic
cavity, anterior to the spine and posterior to the trachea and
heart.

3 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Anatomy of the
Gastro-intestinal Tract
This collapsible tube, which is about 25 cm
(10 inches) in length, becomes distended when food passes
through it.
It passes through the diaphragm at an opening called the
diaphragmatic hiatus.

4 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Anatomy of the
Gastro-intestinal Tract
The remaining portion of the GI tract is located within the
peritoneal cavity.

The stomach is situated in the upper portion of the

abdomen to the left of the midline, just under the left
diaphragm.
It is a distensible pouch with a capacity of approximately
1500 mL.

5 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Anatomy of the
Gastro-intestinal Tract
esophagogastric junction( inlet to the stomach) is
surrounded by a ring of smooth muscle called the lower
esophageal sphincter (or cardiac sphincter
on contraction, closes off the stomach from the esophagus.
 stomach is divided into four anatomic regions:
 cardia (entrance), fundus, body, and pylorus (outlet).

Circular smooth muscle in the wall of the pylorus forms

 pyloric sphincter and
 controls the opening between the stomach and the small
intestine.

6 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Anatomy of the
Gastro-intestinal Tract
The small intestine is the longest segment of the GI
tract, accounting for about two thirds of the total length.
It folds back and forth on itself, providing approximately
7000 cm of surface area for secretion and absorption,
the process by which nutrients enter the bloodstream
through the intestinal walls.
The small intestine is divided into three anatomic parts:
the upper part, called the duodenum; the middle part,
called the jejunum; and the lower part, called the ileum.

7 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Anatomy of the
Gastro-intestinal Tract
 The common bile duct,
 allows for the passage of both bile & pancreatic secretions
 empties into the duodenum at the ampulla of Vater.
 cecum :
 The junction between the small and large intestine,,
 located in the right lower portion of the abdomen.
 The ileocecal valve
 located at this junction.
 controls the passage of intestinal contents into the large intestine
and
 prevents reflux of bacteria into the small intestine.
 The vermiform (worm-like) appendix is located near this
8
junction .
BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025
 Anatomy of the
Gastro-intestinal Tract
 The large intestine
 Consists of an ascending segment on the right side of the
abdomen,
 A transverse segment that extends from right to left in the
upper abdomen, and
 A descending segment on the left side of the abdomen.
 The terminal portion of the large intestine consists of
two parts:
 the sigmoid colon and the rectum.
 The rectum is continuous with the anus.
 A network of striated muscle
9
 BY:
forms both(Msc,
Amin Jeylan the Bsc)
internal and the external anal sphincters 06/13/2025
 regulates the anal outlet.
 Anatomy of the
Gastro-intestinal Tract

The GI tract receives blood from arteries

 originate along the entire length of the thoracic and
abdominal aorta.
Oxygen and nutrients are supplied to the
stomach by the gastric artery and
intestine by the mesenteric arteries(superior and inferior

10 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Anatomy of the
Gastro-intestinal Tract

Blood is drained from these organs by veins that

merge with others in the abdomen to form a large
vessel called the portal vein.
Nutrient-rich blood is then carried to the liver.

The blood flow to the GI tract is about 20% of the

total cardiac output and increases significantly
after eating.

11 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Anatomy of the
Gastro-intestinal Tract

Both the sympathetic and parasympathetic portions of

the autonomic nervous system innervate the GI tract.
 In general, sympathetic nerves exert an inhibitory
effect on the GI tract,
decreasing gastric secretion and motility and
causing the sphincters and blood vessels to constrict .

12 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Anatomy of the
Gastro-intestinal Tract
 Parasympathetic nerve stimulation
causes peristalsis and increases secretory activities.
Relax of sphincters

The only portions of the tract that are under

voluntary control are
 the upper esophagus and
the external anal sphincter.

13 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

14 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025
15 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025
 Function of the Digestive
System

The primary digestive functions of the GI tract are the

following:
To break down food particles into the molecular form
for digestion
To absorb into the bloodstream the small molecules
produced by digestion.
• To eliminate undigested and unabsorbed foodstuffs
and other waste products from the body.

16 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Function of the Digestive
System
After food is ingested, it is propelled through the GI tract,
coming into contact with a wide variety of secretions that aid
in its:
Digestion,
Absorption, or
Elimination from the GI tract.

17 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Chewing and Swallowing
digestion begins with the act of chewing,
food is broken down into small particles that can be swallowed and
mixed with digestive enzymes.
Eating or even the sight, smell, or taste of food can
cause reflex salivation.
Saliva is secreted from three pairs of glands:
the parotid,
the submaxillary, and
 the sublingual glands.

18 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Chewing and Swallowing
Approximately 1.5 L of saliva is secreted daily.
Saliva
the first secretion that comes in contact with food.
contains the enzyme ptyalin, or salivary amylase, which begins
the digestion of starches.
also contains mucus and water, which help to lubricate the
food as it is chewed, thereby facilitating swallowing.

19 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Chewing and Swallowing
Swallowing
begins as a voluntary act that is regulated by a
swallowing center in the medulla oblongata of the
central nervous system.
As food is swallowed,
the epiglottis moves to cover the tracheal opening and
 prevent aspiration of food into the lungs.
Swallowing,
which propels the bolus of food into the upper
esophagus, thus ends as a reflex action.

20 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Chewing and Swallowing
Smooth muscle in the wall of the esophagus
 contracts in a rhythmic sequence from the upper
esophagus toward the stomach to propel the bolus of
food along the tract.
During this process of esophageal peristalsis,
the lower esophageal sphincter relaxes and permits the
bolus of food to enter the stomach.
Subsequently, the lower esophageal sphincter closes
tightly to prevent reflux of stomach contents into the
esophagus.

21 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Gastric Function

The stomach stores and mixes the food with

secretions.
 It secretes a highly acidic fluid in response to the
presence or anticipated ingestion of food.
This fluid, which may have a pH as low as 1, derives
its acidity from the hydrochloric acid(HCl)
secreted by the glands of the stomach.

22 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Gastric Function

The function of this gastric secretion is two-fold:

to break down food into more absorbable components
 to aid in the destruction of most ingested bacteria.
The stomach can produce about 2.4 L per day of
these gastric secretions.
Gastric secretions also contain the enzyme pepsin,
 for initiating protein digestion.

23 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Gastric Function
 Intrinsic factor is also secreted by the gastric
mucosa.
 This compound combines with dietary vitamin
B12
 so that the vitamin can be absorbed in the ileum.
 In the absence of intrinsic factor, vitamin B12
cannot be absorbed
 pernicious anemia results.
 Peristaltic contractions in the stomach propel its
contents toward the pylorus.


24 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Gastric Function

Because large food particles cannot pass through

the pyloric sphincter,
they are churned back into the body of the stomach.
In this way, food in the stomach is agitated
mechanically and broken down into smaller particles.


25 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Gastric Function

Food remains in the stomach for a variable length of

time,
from a half-hour to several hours,
depending on the size of food particles, the composition of
the meal, and other factors.
Peristalsis in the stomach and contractions of the
pyloric sphincter
 allow the partially digested food to enter the small intestine
at a rate that permits efficient absorption of nutrients.

26 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Gastric Function

This food mixed with gastric secretions is called

chyme.
Hormones, neuroregulators, and local regulators
found in the gastric secretions
control the rate of gastric secretions and
 influence gastric motility.

27 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Small Intestine Function

 The digestive process continues in the duodenum.

 Secretions in the duodenum come
 from the accessory digestive organs the pancreas, liver,
and gallbladder and
 the glands in the wall of the intestine itself.
 These secretions contain digestive enzymes and bile.
 Pancreatic secretions have
 an alkaline pH because of high concentrations of
bicarbonate.
 This neutralizes the acid entering the duodenum from the
stomach.
28 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025
 Small Intestine Function
cont’d

The pancreas also secretes digestive enzymes,

including
 trypsin, which aids in digesting protein;
amylase, which aids in digesting starch; and
lipase, which aids in digesting fats.
Bile
 secreted by the liver and
stored in the gallbladder
 aids in emulsifying ingested fats, making them easier to
digest and absorb.

29 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Small Intestine Function
cont’d

 The intestinal glands secrete

 mucus, hormones, electrolytes, and enzymes.
 mucus
 coats the cells and
 protects the mucosa from injury by HCl.
 Hormones, neuro and local regulators
 control the rate of intestinal secretions and
 also influence GI motility.
 Intestinal secretions total approximately
 1 L/day of pancreatic juice,
 0.5 L/day of bile, and
 3 L/day of secretions from the glands of the small intestine.

30 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Small Intestine Function
cont’d

 Two types of contractions occur regularly in the

small intestine:
 Segmentation contractions
 produce mixing waves that move the intestinal contents
back and forth in a churning motion.
 Intestinal peristalsis
 Propels the contents of the small intestine toward the
colon.

 Both movements are stimulated by the presence of

31
chyme.
BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025
 Small Intestine Function
cont’d

Food, initially ingested in the form of fats, proteins, and

carbohydrates, is broken down into absorbable particles
(constituent nutrients) by the process of digestion.
Carbohydrates are broken down into
disaccharides (eg, sucrose, maltose, galactose) and
monosaccharides (eg, glucose, fructose).

Glucose is the major carbohydrate that the tissue cells

use as fuel.

32 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Small Intestine Function
cont’d

Proteins are broken down into

 amino acids and peptides.
Ingested fats are emulsified into
monoglycerides and fatty acids.

These smaller molecules are then ready to be

absorbed.
Chyme stays in the small intestine for 3 to 6
hours,
allowing for continued breakdown and absorption of
nutrients.
33 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025
 Small Intestine Function
cont’d

 villi (Small, finger-like projections)

 present throughout the entire intestine
 To produce digestive enzymes as well as
 to absorb nutrients.
 Absorption is the primary function of the small
intestine.
 Vitamins and minerals
 are not digested
 but rather absorbed essentially unchanged.
 Absorption begins in the jejunum and is
 accomplished by both active transport and diffusion across
34 BY:the
Amin intestinal wall into the circulation.
Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025
 Small Intestine Function
cont’d

Absorption of different nutrients takes place at

different locations in the small intestine.
Iron and calcium absorption takes place in the
duodenum.
Fats, proteins, carbohydrates, sodium, and chloride
are absorbed in the jejunum.
Vitamin B12 and bile salts are absorbed in the ileum.
Magnesium, phosphate, and potassium are absorbed
throughout the small intestine

35 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Colonic Function

 Within 4 hours after eating

 residual waste material passes into the terminal ileum and
 passes slowly into the proximal portion of the colon through
the ileocecal valve.
 This valve, which is normally closed,
 helps prevent colonic contents from refluxing into the small
intestine.
 With each peristaltic wave of the small intestine,
 the valve opens briefly and permits some of the contents to
pass into the colon.

36 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Colonic Function

Bacteria make up a major component of the contents of

the large intestine.
They assist in completing the breakdown of waste material,
especially of undigested or unabsorbed proteins and bile salts.
Two types of colonic secretions are added to the residual
material:
an electrolyte solution and mucus.
The electrolyte solution is chiefly a bicarbonate solution
neutralize the end products formed by the colonic bacterial
action.

37 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Colonic Function
The mucus
protects the colonic mucosa from the interluminal contents and
 also provides adherence for the fecal mass.

Slow, weak peristaltic activity moves the colonic

contents slowly along the tract.
allows efficient reabsorption of water and electrolytes,
which is the primary purpose of the colon.

38 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Colonic Function

Intermittent strong peristaltic waves propel the

contents for considerable distances.
This generally occurs after another meal is eaten,
when intestine-stimulating hormones are released.
 The waste materials from a meal eventually reach
and distend the rectum, usually in about 12 hours.
As much as one fourth of the waste materials from a
meal may still be in the rectum 3 days after the meal
was ingested

39 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Waste Products of Digestion

 Feces consist of
 undigested foodstuffs,
 inorganic materials,
 water, and bacteria.
 Fecal matter is about 75% fluid and 25% solid
material.
 The composition is relatively unaffected by
alterations in diet, because a large portion of the
fecal mass is of non dietary origin, derived from the
secretions of the GI tract.

40 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Waste Products of Digestion

The brown color of the feces results from

 the breakdown of bile by the intestinal bacteria.
Chemicals formed by intestinal bacteria
 (especially indole and skatole) are responsible in large part
for the fecal odor.

41 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Waste Products of Digestion

 Gases formed contain

 methane, hydrogen sulfide, and ammonia, among others.

 The GI tract normally contains approximately

 150 mL of these gases,
 which are either absorbed into the portal circulation and detoxified
by the liver or
 expelled from the rectum as flatus.
 Elimination of stool begins with distention of the rectum,
which reflexively initiates contractions of the rectal
musculature and relaxes the normally closed internal anal
sphincter.

42 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Waste Products of Digestion

The internal sphincter is controlled by the

autonomic nervous system;
the external sphincter is under the conscious
control of the cerebral cortex.
During defecation, the external anal sphincter
voluntarily relaxes to allow colonic contents to be
expelled.
Normally, the external anal sphincter is maintained
in a state of tonic contraction.

43 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Waste Products of Digestion

Thus, defecation is seen to be a spinal reflex

(involving the parasympathetic nerve fibers) that can
be inhibited voluntarily by keeping the external anal
sphincter closed.
Contracting the abdominal muscles (straining)
facilitates emptying of the colon.
The average frequency of defecation in humans is
once daily, but the frequency varies among
individuals.

44 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 ASSESSMENT
Health History and
Clinical
Manifestations

45 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Health History and
Clinical Manifestations
 The nurse begins by taking a complete history, focusing on
symptoms common to GI dysfunction. These symptoms
include:
 Pain,
 Indigestion,
 Intestinal gas,
 Nausea and vomiting,
 Hematemesis, and
 Changes in bowel habits and stool
characteristics.
BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025
46
 Health History and
Clinical Manifestations
Information about any previous GI disease is important.
The nurse notes past and current medication use and any
previous treatment or surgery.

Information pertaining to medications is of particular interest

because medications are a frequent cause of GI symptoms.

47 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Health History and
Clinical Manifestations
 The nurse and patient discuss changes in appetite or eating
patterns and any examples of unexplained weight gain or loss
over the past year.
 The nurse also assesses the stool characteristics.
 The nurse records all abnormal findings and reports them to
the physician.
 It is important to include in the history questions about
psychosocial, spiritual, or cultural factors that may be
affecting the patient.

48 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Clinical Manifestations
Pain
Pain can be a major symptom of GI disease.
The character, duration, pattern, frequency, location,
distribution of referred pain, and time of the pain vary greatly
depending on the underlying cause.
Other factors, such as meals, rest, defecation, and vascular
disorders, may directly affect this pain.

49 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

50 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025
 Clinical
Manifestations
Indigestion
Upper abdominal discomfort or distress associated with
eating (commonly called indigestion) is the most common
symptom of patients with GI dysfunction.
The basis for this abdominal distress may be the patient’s own
gastric peristalti movements.
Bowel movements may or may not relieve the pain.

51 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Clinical Manifestations
Indigestion
Indigestion can result from disturbed nervous system control
of the stomach or from a disorder in the GI tract or elsewhere
in the body.
Fatty foods tend to cause the most discomfort, because they
remain in the stomach longer than proteins or carbohydrates
do.
Coarse vegetables and highly seasoned foods can also cause
considerable distress.

52 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Clinical
Manifestations
Intestinal Gas
The accumulation of gas in the GI tract may result in
belching (the expulsion of gas from the stomach through
the mouth) or flatulence (the expulsion of gas from the
rectum).
It is through belching that swallowed air is expelled quickly
when it reaches the stomach.
Usually, gases in the small intestine pass into the colon and
are released as flatus.
Patients often complain of bloating, distention, or being
“full of gas.”
Excessive flatulence may be a symptom of gallbladder
disease or food intolerance.
53 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025
 Clinical
Nausea and Vomiting
Manifestations
 Vomiting is another major symptom of GI disease.
 Vomiting is usually preceded by nausea, which
can be triggered by odors, activity, or food intake.
 The emesis, or vomitus, may vary in color and
content.
 It may contain undigested food particles or blood
(hematemesis).
 When vomiting occurs soon after hemorrhage,
the emesis is bright red.
 If blood has been retained in the stomach, it takes
on a coffee-ground appearance because of the
action of the digestive enzymes.

54 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Clinical
Manifestations
Change in Bowel Habits and Stool Characteristics
 Changes in bowel habits may signal colon disease.
 Diarrhea (an abnormal increase in the frequency and liquidity
of the stool or in daily stool weight or volume) commonly
occurs when the contents move so rapidly through the
intestine and colon that there is inadequate time for the GI
secretions to be absorbed.

55 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Clinical Manifestations
Change in Bowel Habits and Stool Characteristics
Diarrhea is sometimes associated with abdominal pain or
cramping and nausea or vomiting.
Constipation (a decrease in the frequency of stool, or stools
that are hard, dry, and of smaller volume than normal) may
be associated with anal discomfort and rectal bleeding.

56 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

57 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025
 Clinical Manifestations
Change in Bowel Habits and
…
 Other common abnormalities in stool characteristics
that the patient may describe during the health history
include the following:
 Bulky, greasy, foamy stools that are foul in odor; stool
color is gray, with a silvery sheen
 Light gray or clay-colored stool,
 caused by the absence of Urobilin
 Stool with mucus threads or pus that may be visible on
gross inspection of the stool
 Small, dry, rock-hard masses called scybala; sometimes
streaked with blood from rectal trauma as they pass
through the rectum
 Loose, watery stool that may or may not be streaked
58 with
BY: Aminblood
Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025
 Physical Assessment
The physical examination includes assessment of the mouth,
abdomen, and rectum.
The mouth, tongue, buccal mucosa, teeth, and gums are
inspected, and ulcers, nodules, swelling, discoloration, and
inflammation are noted.
People with dentures should remove them during this part of
the examination to allow good visualization.

59 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Physical Assessment
The patient lies supine with knees flexed slightly for
inspection, auscultation, palpation, and percussion of the
abdomen.
The nurse performs inspection first, noting skin changes and
scars from previous surgery.
It also is important to note the contour and symmetry of the
abdomen, to identify any localized bulging, distention, or
peristaltic waves.

60 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Physical Assessment
The nurse performs auscultation before percussion and
palpation
which can increase intestinal motility and thereby change bowel
sounds
notes the character, location, and frequency of bowel sounds.
The nurse assesses bowel sounds in all four quadrants using
the diaphragm of the stethoscope; the high-pitched and
gurgling sounds can be heard best in this manner.

61 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Physical Assessment
 It is important to document the frequency of the sounds,
using the terms normal (sounds heard about every 5 to 20
seconds), hypoactive (one or two sounds in 2 minutes),
hyperactive (5 to 6 sounds heard in less than 30 seconds), or
absent (no sounds in 3 to 5 minutes).
 The nurse notes tympany or dullness during percussion.
 Use light palpation is appropriate for identifying areas of
tenderness or swelling;
 the nurse may use deep palpation to identify masses in any
of the four quadrants.

62 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Physical Assessment
If the patient identifies any area of discomfort, the nurse can
assess for rebound tenderness.
To elicit rebound tenderness, the nurse exerts pressure over
the area and then releases it quickly.
It is important to note any pain experienced on withdrawal of
the pressure.

63 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Physical Assessment
The nurse notes any abnormal finding in relation to the
surface landmarks like:
Xiphoid process,
Costal margins,
Anterior iliac spine, and
Symphysis pubis) or

64 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Physical Assessment
In relation to the four quadrants commonly used to describe
the abdomen:
Right upper quadrant, RUQ;
Right lower quadrant, RLQ;
Left upper quadrant, LUQ; and
Left lower quadrant, LLQ)

65 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Physical Assessment
The final part of the examination is inspection of the anal
and perineal area.
The nurse should inspect and palpate areas of excoriation or
rash, fissures or fistula openings, or external hemorrhoids.
A digital rectal examination can be performed
to note any areas of tenderness or mass.

66 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Inspecting the abdomen

67 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Auscultating the abdomen

68 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Auscultating the abdomen

69 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Percussing the abdomen

70 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Palpating the abdomen

71 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Diagnostic Evaluation
STOOL TESTS: Basic examination of the stool includes
inspecting the specimen for
consistency and color and
testing for occult (not visible) blood.
Special tests, including tests for fecal urobilinogen, fat,
nitrogen, parasites, pathogens, food residues, and other
substances, require that the specimen be sent to the
laboratory.

72 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Diagnostic Evaluation
ABDOMINAL ULTRASONOGRAPHY: Most recently this
technique has proven useful in diagnosing acute colonic
diverticulitis.

Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is a specialized

enteroscopic procedure that aids in the diagnosis of GI
disorders by providing direct imaging of a target area.

73 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Diagnostic Evaluation
DNA TESTING: Researchers have refined methods for genetic
risk assessment, preclinical diagnosis, and prenatal diagnosis
to identify persons who are at risk for certain GI disorders
(e.g., gastric cancer, lactose deficiency, inflammatory bowel
disease, colon cancer).

74 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Diagnostic Evaluation
IMAGING STUDIES: Imaging studies include:
X-ray and contrast studies,
Computed tomography (CT) scans,
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and
Scintigraphy (radionuclide imaging).

75 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Diagnostic Evaluation
 ENDOSCOPIC PROCEDURES: Endoscopic procedures used in
GI tract assessment include:
 Fibroscopy/esophagogastroduodenoscopy
 Anoscopy,
 Proctoscopy,
 Sigmoidoscopy,
 Barium enema
 Colonoscopy,
 Small-bowel enteroscopy, and
 Endoscopy through ostomy.
BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc)
76 06/13/2025
 Patient undergoing
gastroscopy

77 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Flexible fiberoptic
sigmoidoscopy

78 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Colonoscopy

79 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Nursing Interventions for
Diagnostic Tests
General nursing interventions for the patient who is having GI
diagnostic assessment include the following:
Providing general information about a healthy
diet and the nutritional factors that can cause GI
disturbances; after a diagnosis has been
confirmed, the nurse provides information about
specific nutrients that should be included in the
diet.

80 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Nursing Interventions for
Diagnostic Tests
General nursing interventions…
 Providing needed information about the test
and the activities required of the patient
 Providing instructions about post procedure
care and activity restrictions
 Alleviating anxiety
 Helping the patient cope with discomfort

81 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Nursing Interventions for
Diagnostic Tests
General nursing interventions…
Encouraging family members or others to offer
emotional support to the patient during the
diagnostic testing
Assessing for adequate hydration before,
during, and immediately after the procedure,
and providing education about maintenance of
hydration

82 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025

 Thank you!!!!

83 BY: Amin Jeylan (Msc, Bsc) 06/13/2025