Gastrointestinal System

Body Systems Gastrointestinal System
GI overview

Gastrointestinal System

GI conditions, evidence, coding, tests, medications, and nursing diagnoses.

Conditions

Major gi conditions

GI 6 sections

UGIB

Upper GI bleed (proximal to ligament of Treitz): hematemesis, melena, coffee-ground emesis. Most common: peptic ulcer (35-50%). Glasgow-Blatchford score guides need for urgent intervention.

UGIB upper GI bleed hematemesis
GI 6 sections

LGIB

Lower GI bleed (distal to ligament of Treitz): hematochezia. Most common causes: diverticulosis, hemorrhoids, AVMs, colorectal cancer. Most self-limited. Colonoscopy for diagnosis/treatment.

LGIB lower GI bleed hematochezia
GI 6 sections

PUD

PUD: ulceration of gastric or duodenal mucosa from H. pylori (most common), NSAIDs, or stress (ICU). H. pylori eradication with triple therapy is curative. PPIs provide symptom relief.

PUD peptic ulcer gastric ulcer
GI 6 sections

GERD

GERD is chronic acid reflux causing heartburn, regurgitation, and potentially esophageal damage (erosive esophagitis, Barrett esophagus). PPIs are most effective treatment.

GERD gastroesophageal reflux acid reflux
GI 6 sections

Crohn's

Crohn's disease is transmural granulomatous inflammation of any GI segment (skip lesions). Terminal ileum most common. Complications: fistulas, strictures, abscesses. Biologics have transformed management.

Crohn's disease Crohn disease regional enteritis
GI 6 sections

UC

UC is mucosal inflammation confined to the colon, starting at rectum and extending proximally. Continuous distribution. Bloody diarrhea is hallmark. Severe UC (Truelove/Witts criteria) requires hospitalization.

UC ulcerative colitis proctitis
GI 6 sections

Pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis: epigastric pain radiating to back, nausea, elevated lipase (>3× ULN). Most common causes: gallstones (40%) and alcohol (30%). Ranson or BISAP score predicts severity.

acute pancreatitis pancreatitis
GI 6 sections

Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is end-stage fibrosis from chronic liver injury (alcohol, NAFLD/NASH, viral hepatitis). Complications: varices, ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, hepatorenal syndrome, hepatocellular carcinoma.

cirrhosis liver cirrhosis end-stage liver disease
GI 6 sections

HE

Hepatic encephalopathy is neuropsychiatric dysfunction from liver failure — ammonia accumulation. Grades I-IV (covert → coma). Precipitants: GI bleed, infection, constipation, medications, AKI.

hepatic encephalopathy HE portosystemic encephalopathy
GI 6 sections

Ascites

Ascites is fluid accumulation in the peritoneal cavity. Most common cause: cirrhosis (75%). SAAG ≥1.1 g/dL = portal hypertension. SBP (spontaneous bacterial peritonitis) is a life-threatening complication.

ascites abdominal ascites peritoneal fluid
GI 6 sections

SBO/LBO

Bowel obstruction: mechanical blockage of small (SBO — adhesions #1) or large bowel (LBO — cancer #1). Classic: colicky pain, vomiting, distension, obstipation. Strangulation is surgical emergency.

SBO LBO bowel obstruction
GI 6 sections

C. diff

C. difficile infection (CDI): watery diarrhea (≥3 loose stools/24h), toxin-mediated colitis after antibiotic exposure. Contact precautions required. Vancomycin oral and fidaxomicin are current first-line treatments.

C. diff CDI C. difficile
Nursing diagnoses & care plans

Related nursing diagnoses

NANDA Care plans

Nursing Diagnoses & Care Plans

Open the NANDA tool to review nursing diagnoses and care-plan concepts related to gi conditions.