Gastrointestinal & Urologic Emergencies

Front 1

Acute abdomen

Back 1

A condition of sudden onset of pain within the abdomen, usually indicating peritonitis.

Hint 1

Demands immediate medical or surgical treatment.

Front 2

Acute Kidney Injury

Back 2

A sudden decrease in filtration through the glomeruli of the kidneys.

Front 3

Air Embolism

Back 3

The presence of air in the venous circulation, which forms a gas bubble that can block the outflow of blood from the right ventricle to the lung.

Hint 3

Can lead to cardiac arrest, shock, or other life-threatening complications.

Front 4

Aneurysm

Back 4

A swelling or enlargement of a part of an artery, resulting from weakening of the arterial wall.

Front 5

Anuria

Back 5

A complete halt in the production of urine.

Front 6

Appendicitis

Back 6

Inflammation of the appendix.

Front 7

Ascites

Back 7

Abdominal edema typically signaling liver failure.

Front 8

Benign Prostate Hypertrophy (BPH)

Back 8

Age-related non-malignant enlargement of the prostate gland.

Front 9

Boerhaave Syndrome

Back 9

Forceful vomiting that results in a tear in the esophagus that extends entirely through the esophageal wall, creating a hole.

Front 10

Cholecystitis

Back 10

Inflammation of the gallbladder.

Front 11

Chronic Kidney Disease

Back 11

Progressive and irreversible inadequate kidney function as a result of permanent loss of nephrons.

Front 12

Colic

Back 12

Acute, intermittent, cramping abdominal pain.

Front 13

Crohn Disease

Back 13

Inflammation of the ileum and possibly other portions of the gastrointestinal tract, in which the immune system attacks portions of the intestinal walls, causing them to become scarred, narrowed, stiff, and weakened.

Front 14

Cystitis

Back 14

Another name for urinary tract infection.

Front 15

Disequilibrium Syndrome

Back 15

A condition characterized by nausea, vomiting, headache, and confusion, which results when, as a consequence of dialysis, water initially shifts from the bloodstream into the cerebrospinal fluid, mildly increasing intracranial pressure.

Front 16

Diverticulitis

Back 16

Inflammation of diverticulum, usually in the colon, creating abdominal discomfort.

Hint 16

Abnormal pouch or sac.

Front 17

Ectopic Pregnancy

Back 17

A pregnancy in which the ovum implants somewhere other than the uterine endometrium.

Front 18

Emisis

Back 18

Vomiting.

Front 19

End-stage Renal Disease (ESRD)

Back 19

A condition in which the kidneys have lost all ability to function, and toxic waste materials build up in the patient's blood.

Hint 19

Occurs after acute or chronic kidney disease.

Front 20

Epididymitis

Back 20

An onfection that causes inflammation pf the epididymis along the posterior border of the testis.

Hint 20

A possible complication of male urinary tract infection.

Front 21

Esophageal Varices

Back 21

A condition in which the amount of pressure within the blood vessels surrounding the esophagus increases, causing blood to back up into the portal vessels and ultimately causing the capillary network of the esophagus to leak.

Front 22

Esophagitis

Back 22

Inflammation of the lining of the esophagus.

Front 23

Gastritis

Back 23

Inflammation of the stomach.

Front 24

Gastroenteritis

Back 24

A family of conditions resulting in diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.

Hint 24

Some have infectious causes.

Front 25

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Back 25

A condition in which the sphincter between the esophagus and the stomach opens, allowing stomach acid to move superiorly.

Hint 25

Can cause a burning sensation within the chest (heartburn). Also called acid reflux disease.

Front 26

Guarding

Back 26

Involuntary muscle contractions of the abdominal wall.

Hint 26

An effort to protect the inflamed abdomen.

Front 27

Hematemesis

Back 27

Vomit with blood.

Hint 27

Can either look like coffee grounds, indicating the presence of partially digested blood, or contain bright red blood, indicating active bleeding.

Front 28

Hematochezia

Back 28

The passage of stool in which bright red blood can be distinguished.

Hint 28

Caused by lower gastrointestinal bleeding.

Front 29

Hematuria

Back 29

The presence of blood in the urine.

Front 30

Hernia

Back 30

The protrusion of a loop of an organ or tissue through an abnormal body opening.

Front 31

Ileus

Back 31

Paralysis of the bowel, arising from any one of several causes.

Hint 31

It stops the contractions that normally move material through the intestine.

Front 32

Internal Shunt

Back 32

Also called an arteriovenous fistula, this device is an artificial connection between a vein and an artey, usually in the firearms or upper arm.

Front 33

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Back 33

A condition in which patients have abdominal pain and changes in their bowel habits.

Hint 33

Generally the pain must be present for at least 3 days to a no th to be considered this disease.

Front 34

Kidney Stones

Back 34

Solid crystalline masses formed in the kidney, Resulting from an excess of insoluble salts or uric acid crystalizing in the urine.

Hint 34

These masses may become trapped anywhere along the urinary tract.

Front 35

Mallory-Weiss Tear

Back 35

A tear in the mucous membrane, or inner lining, where the esophagus and the stomach meet, causing severe bleeding and pentially death.

Front 36

Melena

Back 36

Dark, tarry, malodorous stools caused by upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Front 37

Nephrons

Back 37

The structural and functional units of the kidney that form urine.

Hint 37

Compsed of the glomerulus, the glomerular (Bowman) capsule, the proximal convoluted tubule, loop of Henle, and the distal convoluted tubule.

Front 38

Oliguria

Back 38

A decrease in urine output to the extent that total urine output drops to less than 500mL per day.

Front 39

Orchitis

Back 39

A co.plication of a male urinary tract infection in which one or both testes become infected, enlarged, and twnder, causing pain and swelling in the scrotum.

Front 40

Orthostatic Hypotension

Back 40

A drop in systolic blood pressure when moving from a lying or sitting to a standing position.

Front 41

Orthostatic Vital Signs

Back 41

Assessing vital signs in two different patient positions to determine the degree of hypotension.

Hint 41

Also known as the tilt test.

Front 42

Pancreatitis

Back 42

Inflammation of the pancreas.

Front 43

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

Back 43

An infection of the female upper organs of reproduction, specifically the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes.

Front 44

Peristalsis

Back 44

Waves of alternate circular contraction and relaxation of the intestines or other tubular structure to propel the contents forward.

Front 45

Peritoneum

Back 45

The membrane lining the abdominal cavity (parietal) and covering the abdominal organs (visceral).

Front 46

Peritonitis

Back 46

Inflammation of the peritoneum.

Front 47

Portal Vein

Back 47

The blood vessel that transports blood from the gastrointestinal tract to the liver.

Front 48

Priapism

Back 48

A painful, tender, persistent erection of the penis.

Hint 48

Can result from spinal cord injury, erectile dysfunction drugs, or sickle cell disease.

Front 49

Pyelonephritis

Back 49

Inflammation of the kidney and renal pelvis.

Front 50

Rebound Tenderness

Back 50

Parietal pain that occurs when pressure is removed rather than applied.

Hint 50

Suggestive of a serious and potentially life-threatening condition.

Front 51

Referred Pain

Back 51

The pain felt inn am area of the body other than the area where the cause of pain is located.

Front 52

Renal Dialysis

Back 52

A technique for filtering the blood of its toxic wastes, removing excess fluids, and restoring the normal balance of electrolytes.

Front 53

Shunt

Back 53

A passageway that allows fluid to move from one part of the body to another or to a dialysis machine.

Front 54

Steatorrhea

Back 54

Foamy, fatty stool associated with liver failure or gallbladder problems.

Front 55

Strangulation

Back 55

Complete obstruction of blood circulation in a given organ as a result of compression or entrapment.

Hint 55

An emergency situation causing death of tissue.

Front 56

Testicular Torsion

Back 56

Twisting of the testicle on the spermatic cord, from which it is suspended.

Hint 56

Associated with scrotal pain and swelling, and is a medical emergency.

Front 57

Ulcerative colitis

Back 57

Generalized inflammation of the inner lining of the colon that results in a weakened, dilated rectum, making it susceptible to infection and bleeding.

Front 58

Ulcera

Back 58

Abrasions of the stomach or small intestine.

Front 59

Uremia

Back 59

The presence of excessive amounts of urea and other waste products in the blood.

Front 60

Uremic Frost

Back 60

A powdery buildup of uric acid, especially on the face.

Front 61

Urinary Retention

Back 61

Incomplete emptying of the bladder or a complete lack of ability to empty the bladder.

Front 62

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)

Back 62

Infections, usually of the lower urinary tract, which occurs when normal flora bacteria or other bacteria enter the urethra and grow.

Front 63

Visceral Pain

Back 63

Ramoy, aching pain deep within the body, the source of which us usually difficult to pinpoint.

Hint 63

Common with urologic problems.