Gastrointestinal and Nutrition Flashcards
7 cards from real Physician Assistant practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Gastrointestinal and Nutrition flashcards as text
A 45-year-old man presents with dysphagia to solids that has progressed to liquids over 3 months, along with a 20-lb weight loss. Which diagnosis is most likely?
Answer: Esophageal adenocarcinoma
Progressive dysphagia from solids to liquids with significant weight loss is classic for esophageal carcinoma.
Which electrolyte abnormality is most commonly associated with prolonged nasogastric suctioning?
Answer: Hypokalemic hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis
Prolonged NG suctioning removes HCl and K+, leading to hypokalemic hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis.
A patient with Crohn's disease involving the terminal ileum is at greatest risk for deficiency of which nutrient?
Answer: Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is exclusively absorbed in the terminal ileum; Crohn's disease in this location impairs its absorption.
A 60-year-old woman presents with nausea, early satiety, and bloating after meals. Her blood glucose is poorly controlled. Which condition best explains her symptoms?
Answer: Gastroparesis
Gastroparesis is a common complication of long-standing diabetes mellitus and causes delayed gastric emptying with these symptoms.
Which finding on colonoscopy is most characteristic of ulcerative colitis compared to Crohn's disease?
Answer: Continuous involvement starting at the rectum
Ulcerative colitis causes continuous, contiguous mucosal inflammation that always involves the rectum and extends proximally.
A patient taking high-dose NSAIDs develops a peptic ulcer. Which H. pylori-negative, NSAID-associated mechanism is responsible?
Answer: Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis
NSAIDs inhibit COX-1, reducing prostaglandin synthesis, which normally maintains the gastric mucosal protective barrier.
Which nutritional deficiency most commonly causes night blindness?
Answer: Vitamin A
Vitamin A (retinol) is required for rhodopsin synthesis in rod photoreceptors; deficiency impairs dark adaptation and causes night blindness.