CHAMBERLAIN NR 511 FINAL ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY AND
CLINICAL CONCEPTS – CHAMBERLAIN UNIVERSITY – 2026/2027
ACADEMIC YEAR – VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Differential diagnosis abdominal pain
Consider type of pain- visceral, parietal
Consider quality of pain- sharp, burning
Consider onset/timing- sudden/intermittent
Consider associated symptoms
Assessment of diarrhea
acute diarrhea- often sudden onset and viral lasting less than one week, have
nausea, vomiting and fever may occur
chronic diarrhea- lasts more than 2 weeks reoccurs over months and years,
common causes- IBS, IBD, diet colon cancer
Diagnosis of diarrhea
focus on patient history
characteristics of stool
diet
travel
medication
associated symptoms
aggravating and relieving factors
Assessment of constipation
depends on cause
take history
x-ray
anoscopy
palpation
auscultation
Management of gastroenteritis
,at home hydration with sodium content of 45-75 mgs
immodiun
emperic antibiotics for severe (travelers diarrhea)- azithromycin
Sings and symptoms if ischemic colitis
cramping abdominal pain
bloody stools
diarrhea
urgency
nausea/vomiting
low grade fever
abdominal tenderness
bloating
Treatment of Giardia
Metronidazole
Rome IV Criteria
Constipation:
2 or less BMs / wk
Hx of stool withholding
Hx of pain/hard BMs
Large fecal mass in rectum
Hx of large diameter stools
Assessment of ulcerative colitis
+ pANCA
fever
malaise
rectal bleeding
mild abdominal pain i
confined to colon
mucosa friable
4-10 loose stools per day with blood and mucus
Diagnosis of Ulcerative Colitis
,stool analysis
sigmoidoscopy
Management of Ulcerative Colitis
mesalamine
sulfasalazine
loprimide with mild disease
Assessment of diverticulitis
LLQ abdominal pain
pain worse after eating
alternate between constipation and diarrhea
maybe bleeding
if fistula forms can pass fecal matter and air in the urine
rebound tenderness
mass
hyper ot hypoactive bowel sounds
Diagnosis of diverticulitis
labs may be mild to moderate leukocytosis, low hematocrit/hemoglobin
CT with contrast
followed by coloncsopy
Management of diverticulitis
when inflamed- mild, clear liquid diet and rest
serious- hospitalized, IV fluid, bowel rest, NG tube
antibiotics - augmentin 875/125 2xs daily
metronidazole 500mg 3x daily
if no improvement in 72 hours surgery may be needed
when not inflamed treated with high fiber diet
Diagnosis of constipation
dry hard stools with decreased frequency
painful deification
fecal incontinence, small caliber stools, diarrhea
, abdominal pain
abdominal distention
anorexia
Management of constipation
patient education- activity, diet, bowel habits
increase amount of fiber 25-35 grams per day
pharm- psyllium (bulking), docusate (softer), magnesium hydroxide (laxative),
bisacodyl senna (stimulant), mineral oil (lube)
the only med approved for long term use is bulking agents
Management of chronic constipation
increase fiber
laxatives / stool softeners when needed
increase fluid
increase activity
Assessment for appendicitis
abd. pain in the RLQ*** (McBurney's Points)
N/V
pain with cough or movement
rebound tenderness (+Blumberg's)
-ever
Rovsings sign
Psoas sign
Obturator sign
McBurney's sign
Diagnosis of appendicitis
labs CBC, wbcs between 10-20,000, HcG rule out pregnancy
x-ray, assess for gas, pne, and fecal matter
CT- inflammation or rupture
Management of appendicitis
CLINICAL CONCEPTS – CHAMBERLAIN UNIVERSITY – 2026/2027
ACADEMIC YEAR – VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Differential diagnosis abdominal pain
Consider type of pain- visceral, parietal
Consider quality of pain- sharp, burning
Consider onset/timing- sudden/intermittent
Consider associated symptoms
Assessment of diarrhea
acute diarrhea- often sudden onset and viral lasting less than one week, have
nausea, vomiting and fever may occur
chronic diarrhea- lasts more than 2 weeks reoccurs over months and years,
common causes- IBS, IBD, diet colon cancer
Diagnosis of diarrhea
focus on patient history
characteristics of stool
diet
travel
medication
associated symptoms
aggravating and relieving factors
Assessment of constipation
depends on cause
take history
x-ray
anoscopy
palpation
auscultation
Management of gastroenteritis
,at home hydration with sodium content of 45-75 mgs
immodiun
emperic antibiotics for severe (travelers diarrhea)- azithromycin
Sings and symptoms if ischemic colitis
cramping abdominal pain
bloody stools
diarrhea
urgency
nausea/vomiting
low grade fever
abdominal tenderness
bloating
Treatment of Giardia
Metronidazole
Rome IV Criteria
Constipation:
2 or less BMs / wk
Hx of stool withholding
Hx of pain/hard BMs
Large fecal mass in rectum
Hx of large diameter stools
Assessment of ulcerative colitis
+ pANCA
fever
malaise
rectal bleeding
mild abdominal pain i
confined to colon
mucosa friable
4-10 loose stools per day with blood and mucus
Diagnosis of Ulcerative Colitis
,stool analysis
sigmoidoscopy
Management of Ulcerative Colitis
mesalamine
sulfasalazine
loprimide with mild disease
Assessment of diverticulitis
LLQ abdominal pain
pain worse after eating
alternate between constipation and diarrhea
maybe bleeding
if fistula forms can pass fecal matter and air in the urine
rebound tenderness
mass
hyper ot hypoactive bowel sounds
Diagnosis of diverticulitis
labs may be mild to moderate leukocytosis, low hematocrit/hemoglobin
CT with contrast
followed by coloncsopy
Management of diverticulitis
when inflamed- mild, clear liquid diet and rest
serious- hospitalized, IV fluid, bowel rest, NG tube
antibiotics - augmentin 875/125 2xs daily
metronidazole 500mg 3x daily
if no improvement in 72 hours surgery may be needed
when not inflamed treated with high fiber diet
Diagnosis of constipation
dry hard stools with decreased frequency
painful deification
fecal incontinence, small caliber stools, diarrhea
, abdominal pain
abdominal distention
anorexia
Management of constipation
patient education- activity, diet, bowel habits
increase amount of fiber 25-35 grams per day
pharm- psyllium (bulking), docusate (softer), magnesium hydroxide (laxative),
bisacodyl senna (stimulant), mineral oil (lube)
the only med approved for long term use is bulking agents
Management of chronic constipation
increase fiber
laxatives / stool softeners when needed
increase fluid
increase activity
Assessment for appendicitis
abd. pain in the RLQ*** (McBurney's Points)
N/V
pain with cough or movement
rebound tenderness (+Blumberg's)
-ever
Rovsings sign
Psoas sign
Obturator sign
McBurney's sign
Diagnosis of appendicitis
labs CBC, wbcs between 10-20,000, HcG rule out pregnancy
x-ray, assess for gas, pne, and fecal matter
CT- inflammation or rupture
Management of appendicitis
