A patient, diagnosed with alcoholic liver disease and cirrhosis, presents to his healthcare provider because he vomited something that looked like coffee grounds. Which health problem would the care team first suspect?
Esophageal varices.
Colorectal cancer.
Inflammatory bowel disease.
Appendicitis
The Correct Answer is A
A. Esophageal varices: Coffee-ground emesis suggests upper gastrointestinal bleeding, which is often due to ruptured esophageal varices in patients with cirrhosis.
B. Colorectal cancer: This condition typically presents with lower gastrointestinal symptoms such as changes in bowel habits or blood in the stool, not coffee-ground emesis.
C. Inflammatory bowel disease: This condition can cause gastrointestinal bleeding but is more commonly associated with symptoms like diarrhea and abdominal pain rather than coffee-ground emesis.
D. Appendicitis: This condition typically presents with right lower quadrant pain, not upper GI bleeding.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. An increased serum calcitonin level: Calcitonin is involved in lowering blood calcium levels, so increased levels would not indicate hypercalcemia but rather a compensatory mechanism to lower calcium.
B. An increased number of osteocytes: Osteocytes are bone cells, and their number is not a direct indicator of hypercalcemia. Osteoclasts and osteoblasts are more relevant to bone metabolism.
C. Elevated plasma magnesium levels: Elevated magnesium levels are not specifically indicative of hypercalcemia and can be related to other conditions.
D. An increased parathyroid hormone (PTH) level: Hypercalcemia can be associated with increased PTH levels, particularly in primary hyperparathyroidism. Elevated PTH can lead to increased calcium release from bones.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Manifests as neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid plaques that cause a disruption of brain impulses: Alzheimer's disease is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain, leading to disrupted neural communication.
B. Is an inherited disorder that, most often, begins before the age of fifty: While there are inherited forms of Alzheimer's (early-onset), most cases are sporadic and occur after age 65.
C. Can be caused by increased cerebral levels of acetylcholine: Alzheimer's disease is associated with decreased levels of acetylcholine, not increased levels.
D. Causes unusual sensory sensations such as numbness and shooting pain (paresthesia): Paresthesia is not a typical symptom of Alzheimer's disease; it is more related to neurological or peripheral nerve disorders.
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