Gastrointestinal and Renal Care Flashcards

A patient with esophageal varices is actively bleeding. Which medication reduces portal pressure?

Answer: Octreotide

Octreotide causes splanchnic vasoconstriction, lowering portal pressure and reducing variceal bleeding.

Which assessment finding indicates a complication after a paracentesis?

Answer: Hypotension and tachycardia

Rapid fluid removal can cause intravascular volume shifts leading to hypotension and tachycardia.

A patient with acute kidney injury has a fractional excretion of sodium (FENa) less than 1%. What does this suggest?

Answer: Prerenal cause

A FENa below 1% indicates sodium retention from a prerenal cause such as hypoperfusion.

Which dietary modification is appropriate for a patient with hepatic encephalopathy?

Answer: Moderate protein restriction during acute episodes

Temporary moderate protein restriction reduces ammonia production during acute encephalopathy.

A patient with ascites and a tense, distended abdomen reports new fever and abdominal pain. What complication should be suspected?

Answer: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis

Fever and abdominal pain in a patient with ascites suggest spontaneous bacterial peritonitis requiring paracentesis.

Which intervention helps prevent contrast-induced nephropathy in an at-risk patient?

Answer: IV hydration before and after contrast

Adequate IV hydration maintains renal perfusion and is the primary preventive measure for contrast nephropathy.

A patient with a GI bleed has a hemoglobin of 6.5 g/dL and ongoing bleeding. What is the priority intervention?

Answer: Transfuse packed red blood cells

Active bleeding with critically low hemoglobin requires packed red blood cell transfusion to restore oxygen-carrying capacity.