Author Question: A postoperative appendectomy patient has a nasogastric tube and wonders why the previous nurse told ... (Read 343 times)

Jramos095 · **on:** Jul 24, 2018

A postoperative appendectomy patient has a nasogastric tube and wonders why the previous nurse told him that he was receiving an IV ulcer-preventing medication called ranitidine.

The patient states that he has never had any stomach problems in his life. Which is the best response by the nurse?
a. This medication will cause the pH in your stomach to drop.
b. This medication helps coat your stomach while the nasogastric tube is in place.
c. Because you are not eating after surgery, this medication will help reduce the hydrochloric acid your stomach is still secreting.
d. The nasogastric tube will cause peptic ulcer disease. This medication will help prevent that.

Question 2

Which medication is used in the treatment of gastric reflux esophagitis and diabetic gastroparesis?

a. Metoclopramide
b. Misoprostol
c. Pantoprazole
d. Ranitidine

aadams68 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 24, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANS: C
Patients who are not eating still secrete hydrochloric acid from the stomach's parietal cells. H2 receptor antagonists block the H2 receptors, resulting in a decrease in the amount of acid secreted. The pH of the stomach contents then becomes less acidic, which reduces the stress of the mucosal lining of the stomach. Ranitidine causes the stomach contents to become less acidic as the amount of acid secreted decreases; consequently, the pH of the stomach rises. This is not a coating agent, and giving it parenterally will not work to coat the stomach. Increased gastric acid, not nasogastric tubes, causes peptic ulcer disease (PUD).

Answer to Question 2

ANS: A
Metoclopramide is a gastric stimulant used to relieve the symptoms of gastric reflux esophagitis and diabetic gastroparesis, aid in small bowel intubation, and stimulate gastric emptying and intestinal transit of barium after radiologic examination of the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Misoprostol is used to prevent and treat gastric ulcers caused by NSAIDs, including aspirin. Pantoprazole and ranitidine do not treat gastroparesis.