GI Nutrition and Therapeutic Diets Flashcards

Which assessment finding suggests total parenteral nutrition (TPN) line sepsis?

Answer: Temperature 38.9°C with chills and erythema at the catheter site

Fever, chills, and local site inflammation are classic signs of central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) in TPN patients.

Dumping syndrome after gastric bypass is best managed initially by which dietary intervention?

Answer: Eating small, frequent meals and avoiding simple sugars

Small, frequent meals low in simple carbohydrates and separating fluids from solids reduces rapid gastric emptying that causes dumping syndrome.

A patient receiving continuous enteral tube feeding develops diarrhea. Which intervention should the nurse consider first?

Answer: Assess for medications that may cause diarrhea, such as sorbitol-containing liquid medications

Many liquid medications contain sorbitol as a vehicle, which is a common overlooked cause of diarrhea in tube-fed patients.

In inflammatory bowel disease, omega-3 fatty acid supplementation is thought to be beneficial due to which mechanism?

Answer: Reducing pro-inflammatory leukotriene production

Omega-3 fatty acids compete with arachidonic acid and reduce pro-inflammatory leukotrienes, potentially decreasing IBD inflammation.

Which serum marker is most useful for monitoring short-term nutritional status and response to nutritional therapy?

Answer: Serum prealbumin (transthyretin)

Prealbumin has a half-life of 2–3 days, making it a more sensitive and timely marker of nutritional status changes than albumin.

A patient with ileostomy is at increased risk for which electrolyte disorder?

Answer: Sodium and fluid depletion (hyponatremia/dehydration)

Ileostomy output is high in sodium and water; without adequate replacement, patients develop dehydration and hyponatremia.