Description
Case Scenario:
An 84-?year-old?-female who has a history of diverticular disease presents to the clinic with left lower quadrant (LLQ) pain of the abdomen that?is accompanied?by with constipation, nausea, vomiting and a?low-grade?fever (100.20?F) for 1 day.
On physical exam the patient appears unwell. She has signs of dehydration (pale mucosa, poor skin turgor with mild hypotension [90/60 mm Hg] and tachycardia [101 bpm]). The remainder of her exam is normal except for her abdomen where the NP notes a distended, round contour. Bowel sounds a faint and very hypoactive. She is tender to light palpation of the LLQ but without rebound tenderness. There is hyper-resonance of her abdomen to percussion.??
The following diagnostics reveal:??
Stool for occult blood is positive.
Flat plate abdominal x-ray demonstrates a bowel-gas pattern consistent with an ileus.?
Abdominal CT scan with contrast shows no evidence of a mass or abscess. Small bowel in distended.?
Based on the clinical presentation, physical exam and diagnostic findings, the patient is diagnosed with acute diverticulitis and she is admitted to the hospital. She is prescribed intravenous antibiotics and fluids (IVF). Her symptoms improved and she could tolerate a regular diet before she was discharged to home.
Discussion Questions:
- Compare and contrast the pathophysiology between diverticular disease (diverticulosis) and diverticulitis.
- Identify the clinical findings from the case that supports a diagnosis of acute diverticulitis. ?
- List 3 risk factors for acute diverticulitis.
- Discuss why antibiotics and IV fluids are indicated in this case.
Explanation & Answer
View attached explanation and answer. Let me know if you have any questions.
Running head: DIVERTICULA DISEASE
Diverticula Disease
Student’s Name
Institution’s Name
1
DIVERTICULA DISEASE
2
Diverticula Disease
Diverticulosis and diverticulitis
Diverticulosis and diverticulitis are medical conditions that occur in the large intestine.
Together they are referred to as diverticular disease because they both result from diverticula.
Diverticula are swollen pouches that form along the colon, leading to the disease (Robinson,
2017). The pouches can be small or large and can develop anywhere along the lining of the
colon. However, they are common in the lower left side of the colon, specifically in the sigmoid
region. They usually occur in parallel rows in between the taenia coli. Generally, diverticula are
common among adults and are thought to mainly result from deficiencies of dietary fiber,
disordered intestinal motile, and malformations of the colonic ...
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