Cholecystitis Nursing NCLEX Pathophysiology, Symptoms (T-Tube & Cholecystostomy)

Summary

This video provides a detailed review of cholecystitis, focusing on its causes, symptoms, diagnostic methods, and nursing management. The condition is characterized by the inflammation of the gallbladder, often due to gallstones or bile flow obstruction. Key symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and jaundice. Diagnosis typically involves imaging tests like ultrasound, while treatment may include ERCP or cholecystectomy. Nursing care is essential, using the mnemonic 'GALLBLADDER' to guide interventions, including GI rest, analgesics, antibiotics, and patient monitoring. This comprehensive guide helps healthcare professionals understand the condition and manage it effectively.

Takeaways

• 😀 Cholecystitis is the inflammation of the gallbladder, often due to a blockage in the bile duct.
• 😀 Risk factors for cholecystitis include gender (female), obesity, age over 40, family history, pregnancy, and ethnicity (e.g., Native American, Mexican American).
• 😀 The gallbladder stores bile, which aids in digestion by breaking down fats and eliminating bilirubin from the body.
• 😀 Obstructions like gallstones or improper gallbladder contractions are common causes of cholecystitis.
• 😀 Symptoms of cholecystitis include right upper quadrant pain, nausea, vomiting, jaundice, and fatty stools (steatorrhea).
• 😀 Murphy’s sign is a clinical indication where pain is elicited by pressing on the right side of the abdomen during inhalation.
• 😀 Diagnostic tests for cholecystitis include ultrasound, HIDA scan, and CT scan to visualize the gallbladder and assess its function.
• 😀 Nursing interventions for cholecystitis include managing pain, administering antiemetics for nausea, and ensuring adequate hydration with IV fluids.
• 😀 Cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal) is a common treatment, either through laparoscopic or open surgery.
• 😀 Post-surgical care involves monitoring for complications, including infection, bile leaks, and maintaining drainage around the surgical site.

Q & A

What is cholecystitis?

Cholecystitis is the inflammation of the gallbladder, typically caused by the obstruction of the bile duct, most commonly due to gallstones. It can lead to complications such as jaundice, dark urine, and steatorrhea (fatty stools).

What are the primary causes of cholecystitis?

The primary causes of cholecystitis include gallstones, which block the bile duct, and non-calculous cholecystitis, which can occur without gallstones, often in patients with severe illnesses or trauma.

What are some risk factors for developing cholecystitis?

Risk factors for cholecystitis include being female, over 40 years old, obese, having a family history of gallstones, pregnancy, and being of Native American or Mexican American descent.

What are the key symptoms of cholecystitis?

The key symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain (especially in the right upper quadrant), positive Murphy's sign, jaundice, dark urine, light-colored stools, and greasy stools (steatorrhea).

What is a positive Murphy's sign?

A positive Murphy's sign is when a patient experiences pain upon deep inspiration while the examiner palpates the gallbladder area. This is a clinical indicator of cholecystitis.

How is cholecystitis diagnosed?

Cholecystitis can be diagnosed using an abdominal ultrasound, which visualizes gallstones or inflammation, a Haida scan to assess gallbladder function, and a CT scan for a detailed view of the gallbladder.

What nursing interventions are crucial for managing cholecystitis?

Nursing interventions include GI rest (NPO), administering pain relief and antiemetics, encouraging a low-fat diet post-recovery, managing fluid and electrolyte balance, and monitoring for complications such as infections or sepsis.

What is the acronym 'GALLBLADDER' used for?

The acronym 'GALLBLADDER' represents a set of nursing interventions to manage cholecystitis, which include GI rest, analgesics, low-fat diet, large-bore IV fluids, labs, antibiotics, drain care, deterioration signs monitoring, ERCP, and removal of the gallbladder.

What are the treatment options for cholecystitis?

The treatment options for cholecystitis include cholecystectomy (removal of the gallbladder), which can be done laparoscopically or via open surgery, and ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography) to remove stones from the bile duct.

What complications can arise from untreated cholecystitis?

Untreated cholecystitis can lead to severe complications such as sepsis, gallbladder rupture, pancreatitis, and chronic pain. It is essential to address the condition early to avoid these life-threatening issues.