Pharmacotherapy for Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary Disorders Essay

Pharmacotherapy for Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary Disorders Essay

Pharmacotherapy for Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary Disorders Essay

Pharmacotherapy for Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary Disorders Sample Essay

Gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary disorders are common in nursing practice. Nurses and other healthcare providers should be competent in assessing and developing appropriate care plans for the affected populations. Therefore, this paper examines a case study involving a patient with a gastrointestinal disorder. It develops a diagnosis and treatments that may be considered for the patient.

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Diagnosis

The patient in the case study has presented with symptoms that include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea. Based on these symptoms, I would diagnose the patient with gastroenteritis. Gastroenteritis is a disorder that is characterized by the inflammation and irritation of the lining of the intestines and stomach. The irritation arises largely from viral and bacterial infections. In some cases, parasites and toxins can cause gastroenteritis. Patients often experience symptoms that include watery diarrhoea, stomach cramps, vomiting, and nausea. There may be additional symptoms such as headache, chills, muscle aches, low-grade fever, and fatigue(Chen et al., 2021). The patient in the case study has these symptoms, making gastroenteritis my primary diagnosis.

Appropriate Drug Therapy

The treatment approach to gastroenteritis depends largely on the cause. The healthcare provider should determine the specific cause of the disease to guide the treatment. Supportive therapy is primarily recommended if the patient is diagnosed with viral gastroenteritis. Supportive therapy entails correcting the electrolyte imbalance caused by the excessive fluid loss and managing any complications that may arise from damage to the mucosal lining. Intravenous fluids may be given in severe fluid loss while oral administration is recommended for mild to moderate losses (Chen et al., 2021). The best choice of rehydration is the use of oral rehydrating therapy.

The other alternative to treating gastroenteritis is the use of antibiotics. Antibiotics are prescribed if the diagnosis shows bacteria gastroenteritis or there is bloody diarrhea, suspected cholera, non-intestinal infections, and fevers. Antiemetic and anti-motility agents such as promethazine hydrochloride and loperamide may be considered to decrease nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The patient should also be educated about dietary modifications (Kim et al., 2019; Sunkara et al., 2019). This includes increased intake of liquids with adequate electrolytes and potato noodles, boiled rice, soup, bananas, and crackers for watery diarrhea. Foods with high fat index should be avoided to minimize diarrhea.

Conclusion

Gastroenteritis is the client’s primary diagnosis. The symptoms align with those of this disorder. The treatment approach would entail supportive therapy and antibiotics. The patient should also be educated on dietary modifications.

References

Chen, P. H., Anderson, L., Zhang, K., & Weiss, G. A. (2021). Eosinophilic Gastritis/Gastroenteritis. Current Gastroenterology Reports, 23(8), 13. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11894-021-00809-2

Kim, Y. J., Park, K.-H., Park, D.-A., Park, J., Bang, B. W., Lee, S. S., Lee, E. J., Lee, H.-J., Hong, S. K., & Kim, Y. R. (2019). Guideline for the Antibiotic Use in Acute Gastroenteritis. Infection & Chemotherapy, 51(2), 217–243. https://doi.org/10.3947/ic.2019.51.2.217

Sunkara, T., Rawla, P., Yarlagadda, K. S., & Gaduputi, V. (2019). Eosinophilic gastroenteritis: Diagnosis and clinical perspectives. Clinical and Experimental Gastroenterology, 12, 239–253. https://doi.org/10.2147/CEG.S173130

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Case study: Patient HL comes into the clinic with the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The patient has a history of drug abuse and possible Hepatitis C. HL is currently taking the following prescription drugs:

• Synthroid 100 mcg daily
• Nifedipine 30 mg daily
• Prednisone 10 mg daily

Gastrointestinal (GI) and hepatobiliary disorders affect the structure and function of the GI tract. Many of these disorders often have similar symptoms, such as abdominal pain, cramping, constipation, nausea, bloating, and fatigue. Since multiple disorders can be tied to the same symptoms, it is important for advanced practice nurses to carefully evaluate patients and prescribe a treatment that targets the cause rather than the symptom.

Once the underlying cause is identified, an appropriate drug therapy plan can be recommended based on medical history and individual patient factors. In this Assignment, you examine a case study of a patient who presents with symptoms of a possible GI/hepatobiliary disorder, and you design an appropriate drug therapy plan.

To Prepare:

• Review the case study assigned by your Instructor for this Assignment
• Reflect on the patient’s symptoms, medical history, and drugs currently prescribed.
• Think about a possible diagnosis for the patient. Consider whether the patient has a disorder related to the gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary system or whether the symptoms are the result of a disorder from another system or other factors, such as pregnancy, drugs, or a psychological disorder.
• Consider an appropriate drug therapy plan based on the patient’s history, diagnosis, and drugs currently prescribed.Write a 1-page paper that addresses the following:
• Explain your diagnosis for the patient, including your rationale for the diagnosis.
• Describe an appropriate drug therapy plan based on the patient’s history, diagnosis, and drugs currently prescribed.
• Justify why you would recommend this drug therapy plan for this patient. Be specific and provide examples.