Question

Case study #2

Digestive system

Ms. K, age 79yrs old, has developed a partial obstruction in her colon. She was having difficulty with bowel movements and was nauseated, anorexic, and dehydrated. Surgery revealed diverticulitis with considerable fibrosis causing the obstruction. A colostomy was required.

Diverticulitis - Diverticulosis happens when pouches (diverticula (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.) form in the wall of the colon (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.. If these pouches get inflamed or infected, it is called diverticulitis (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.. Diverticulitis can be very painful.

1. Why would she have difficulty passing feces?
2. Why do you think she would be nauseated and anorexic?
3. Why would she be dehydrated?
4. How would fibrosis affect the functioning of the colon?
5. Why would a colostomy be necessary?

Answer 1

Diverticulitis is the inflammation of small pouches called diverticula in your intestine.

- Why would she have difficulty passing feces?

The diverticulitis causes the inflammation and enlargement of the diverticula inside intestine. The fibrosis of the intestineand inflammation of the diverticlua causes obstruction to the feces and this leads to difficulty in passing feces, the subject may also experience mild to severe pain which further increases the difficulty passing feces

-Why do you think she would be nauseated and anorexic?

An obstruction in the intestine can cause materials in the bowel to back up to stomach this leads to feeling of nausea and anorexia.

-Why would she be dehydrated?

The fibrosis and diverticulitis leads to improper intestinal wall function, leading to inadequate water absorption which has lead to dehydation.

- How would fivrosis afect the functioning of the colon?

Fibrosis can be defined as the excessive accumulation of scar tissue in the intestinal wall. This affects the funcitoning of the intestinal wall, depriving efficiency of the wall to absorb water and other molecules into the system.

- Why would a colostomy be necessary?

Colostomy is a surgical procedure done usually when there is an obstruction in the colon, in this procedure one end of the colon is diverted through an incision made in the abdominal wall(stoma). Due to the intestinal obstruction a temporary or permanent colostomy is needed. The surgical procedure helps to divert the contents around obstruction.

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