The nurse talks with a graduate nurse. Which does the graduate nurse identify as the most common cause of small bowel obstruction in adults?
Appendicitis and peritonitis
Sigmoid colon cancer
Cirrhosis and ascites
Adhesions of the small intestine
The Correct Answer is D
Choice A reason: Appendicitis and peritonitis are not the most common cause of small bowel obstruction in adults because they are conditions that affect the appendix and the peritoneum, which are parts of the large intestine, not the small intestine. The appendix is a small pouch that is attached to the cecum, which is the first part of the large intestine. The peritoneum is a membrane that covers the abdominal organs and the abdominal wall. Appendicitis is a condition where the appendix becomes inflamed, causing symptoms such as pain, fever, or nausea. Peritonitis is a condition where the peritoneum becomes inflamed, usually due to an infection or a perforation of the abdominal organs, causing symptoms such as pain, fever, or shock.
Choice B reason: Sigmoid colon cancer is not the most common cause of small bowel obstruction in adults because it is a condition that affects the sigmoid colon, which is the last part of the large intestine, not the small intestine. The sigmoid colon is a curved segment that connects the descending colon to the rectum, which is the final part of the digestive tract. Sigmoid colon cancer is a type of cancer that develops from the cells that line the inner wall of the sigmoid colon, causing symptoms such as bleeding, change in bowel habits, or weight loss.
Choice C reason: Cirrhosis and ascites are not the most common cause of small bowel obstruction in adults because they are conditions that affect the liver and the abdomen, not the small intestine. The liver is a large organ that performs various functions, such as detoxifying the blood, producing bile, and metabolizing nutrients. The abdomen is the cavity that contains the digestive organs, such as the stomach, the small intestine, and the large intestine. Cirrhosis is a condition where the liver becomes scarred and damaged, usually due to chronic alcohol abuse, viral hepatitis, or fatty liver disease, causing symptoms such as jaundice, fatigue, or bleeding. Ascites is a condition where fluid accumulates in the abdomen, usually due to portal hypertension, which is a high blood pressure in the vein that carries blood from the digestive organs to the liver. Portal hypertension can be a complication of cirrhosis, and can cause symptoms such as abdominal distension, shortness of breath, or infection.
Choice D reason: Adhesions of the small intestine are the most common cause of small bowel obstruction in adults because they are bands of scar tissue that form between the loops of the small intestine, which is the part of the digestive tract that extends from the stomach to the large intestine, and is responsible for digesting and absorbing nutrients. Adhesions of the small intestine can block or twist the passage of food and fluid, causing symptoms such as pain, vomiting, or constipation. Adhesions of the small intestine can be caused by various factors, such as surgery, infection, or inflammation.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A reason: Hemothorax is not the correct explanation because it is a condition where blood accumulates in the pleural space, which is the area between the lungs and the chest wall. Hemothorax can cause low blood pressure, rapid breathing, and reduced breath sounds, but it does not cause tracheal deviation, which is a sign of increased pressure in the chest.
Choice B reason: Absorption atelectasis is not the correct explanation because it is a condition where the alveoli, which are the tiny air sacs in the lungs, collapse due to lack of oxygen. Absorption atelectasis can cause reduced breath sounds, but it does not cause low blood pressure, rapid breathing, or tracheal deviation, which are signs of a life-threatening emergency.
Choice C reason: Tension pneumothorax is the correct explanation because it is a condition where air leaks into the pleural space and creates a one-way valve that prevents the air from escaping. This causes the pressure in the chest to increase, which compresses the lung, the heart, and the great vessels. Tension pneumothorax can cause low blood pressure, rapid breathing, absent breath sounds, and tracheal deviation, which are signs of a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment.
Choice D reason: Hypovolemic shock is not the correct explanation because it is a condition where the body loses a large amount of blood or fluid, which reduces the blood volume and the blood pressure. Hypovolemic shock can cause low blood pressure and rapid breathing, but it does not cause absent breath sounds or tracheal deviation, which are signs of a chest injury.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A reason: Fewer numbers of parietal cells in the gastric mucosa is not the best explanation because it is a condition that affects the production of gastric acid, not the development of duodenal ulcers. Parietal cells are the cells that secrete hydrochloric acid and intrinsic factor in the stomach. Hydrochloric acid helps to digest food and kill bacteria, while intrinsic factor helps to absorb vitamin B12. Fewer numbers of parietal cells can cause hypochlorhydria, which is a low level of gastric acid, or pernicious anemia, which is a deficiency of vitamin B12. Hypochlorhydria can increase the risk of bacterial overgrowth and infections, while pernicious anemia can cause symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, and neurological problems.
Choice B reason: Helicobacter pylori infection is the best explanation because it is the most common cause of duodenal ulcers, which are sores that form in the lining of the first part of the small intestine, called the duodenum. Helicobacter pylori is a type of bacteria that can survive in the acidic environment of the stomach and the duodenum. It can damage the protective layer of mucus that covers the lining of the digestive tract, exposing it to the gastric acid and causing inflammation and ulceration. Helicobacter pylori infection can also increase the production of gastrin, which is a hormone that stimulates the secretion of gastric acid, and decrease the production of somatostatin, which is a hormone that inhibits the secretion of gastric acid.
Choice C reason: Slowed gastric emptying is not the best explanation because it is a condition that affects the movement of food from the stomach to the small intestine, not the development of duodenal ulcers. Gastric emptying is the process of passing the food that has been partially digested in the stomach to the duodenum, where it is further broken down and absorbed. Slowed gastric emptying can be caused by various factors, such as diabetes, medications, or nerve damage, and can result in symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, bloating, or fullness.
Choice D reason: Frequent use of acetaminophen is not the best explanation because it is a factor that affects the development of gastric ulcers, not duodenal ulcers. Acetaminophen is a type of medication that is used to relieve pain and fever. It can cause gastric ulcers by inhibiting the synthesis of prostaglandins, which are substances that protect the lining of the stomach from the gastric acid and promote healing. Acetaminophen can also cause liver damage if taken in high doses or for a long time.
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