Week #5 Funds: Gastrointestinal
I. Learning Objectives:
II. Diagnostics:
● Hemoccult (fecal occult blood - FOB, OB - occult blood), guaiac (brand name):
measures microscopic (you cannot see) amounts of blood in feces; used for
colon cancer screening, GI bleeding
● 1) Guaiac fecal occult blood test
○ Avoid eating red meat for three days before the test
○ Repeat the test at least three times on three separate bowel movement
○ More common
○ Get fecal material and maybe pour agent
○ Patients can do this test at home
○ Used to screen for colon cancer
● Stool culture looks for the presence of bacteria, usually ordered w/ ovum and
parasites (ONP)
○ ONP (ovum-eggs n parasites) ordered for people who have traveled
recently
○ C. difficile is contracted by the use of long term antibiotics or contact
■ Contact precautions
■ Hospitals may require 3 negative C. diff tests to go off of
precautions
● Radiologic Procedures:
1. Abdominal x-rays to visualize structure and locate perforations or
masses
-> Ex: kidneys ureters, bladder (KUB {kidney, ureter, bladder}) because
urinary pain can manifest as abdominal pain
, 2. Barium swallows are used to visualize the structure and motility of the GI
tract by having the patient swallow contrast Barium dye to
a. Assess for dysphagia, narrow esophagi, aspiration, hernias, GERD,
polyps, tumors, or ulcers
b. Usually requires a clear liquid diet and laxatives before the
procedure
c. Look through x-ray
d. NPO before procedure
● Endoscopic examination: tubing used to gain visualization of upper GI
(endoscopy) or large intestine (colonoscopy)
*esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD): stomach, esophagus, & duodenum
○ Use of an endoscope (camera)
○ Used for diagnosis, biopsy, cauterization to stop bleeding (high heat to
stop bleeding)
○ The patient will be NPO beforehand or on a clear liquid diet to prevent
vomiting and blockage
○ Cardio and respiration monitoring
○ The patient will have conscious sedation during the procedure and local
anesthetic at the throat to prevent gagging on scope can communicate
■ Merced & fentanyl
● Merced has amnesic products
○ Post-op: assess the return of patient’s gag reflex to prevent aspiration
and aspiration pneumonia
■ Swallow trial: water
■ Usually, go to a normal diet after
I. Learning Objectives:
II. Diagnostics:
● Hemoccult (fecal occult blood - FOB, OB - occult blood), guaiac (brand name):
measures microscopic (you cannot see) amounts of blood in feces; used for
colon cancer screening, GI bleeding
● 1) Guaiac fecal occult blood test
○ Avoid eating red meat for three days before the test
○ Repeat the test at least three times on three separate bowel movement
○ More common
○ Get fecal material and maybe pour agent
○ Patients can do this test at home
○ Used to screen for colon cancer
● Stool culture looks for the presence of bacteria, usually ordered w/ ovum and
parasites (ONP)
○ ONP (ovum-eggs n parasites) ordered for people who have traveled
recently
○ C. difficile is contracted by the use of long term antibiotics or contact
■ Contact precautions
■ Hospitals may require 3 negative C. diff tests to go off of
precautions
● Radiologic Procedures:
1. Abdominal x-rays to visualize structure and locate perforations or
masses
-> Ex: kidneys ureters, bladder (KUB {kidney, ureter, bladder}) because
urinary pain can manifest as abdominal pain
, 2. Barium swallows are used to visualize the structure and motility of the GI
tract by having the patient swallow contrast Barium dye to
a. Assess for dysphagia, narrow esophagi, aspiration, hernias, GERD,
polyps, tumors, or ulcers
b. Usually requires a clear liquid diet and laxatives before the
procedure
c. Look through x-ray
d. NPO before procedure
● Endoscopic examination: tubing used to gain visualization of upper GI
(endoscopy) or large intestine (colonoscopy)
*esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD): stomach, esophagus, & duodenum
○ Use of an endoscope (camera)
○ Used for diagnosis, biopsy, cauterization to stop bleeding (high heat to
stop bleeding)
○ The patient will be NPO beforehand or on a clear liquid diet to prevent
vomiting and blockage
○ Cardio and respiration monitoring
○ The patient will have conscious sedation during the procedure and local
anesthetic at the throat to prevent gagging on scope can communicate
■ Merced & fentanyl
● Merced has amnesic products
○ Post-op: assess the return of patient’s gag reflex to prevent aspiration
and aspiration pneumonia
■ Swallow trial: water
■ Usually, go to a normal diet after
