Transcript for:
Nutritional Guidance for Gastrointestinal Disorders

Hi, I'm Cathy with Level Up RN. In this video, I  will be talking about nutritional guidance for a   number of gastrointestinal disorders, including  cholelithiasis, cholecystitis, cirrhosis,   and pancreatitis. At the end of the video,  I'm going to give you guys a quiz to test your   understanding of some of the key points I'll be  covering. So definitely stay tuned for that. And   if you have our Level Up RN nutrition flashcards,  go ahead and pull out your flashcard on these   disorders so you can follow along with me. First, let's talk about cholelithiasis,   which is a fancy name for gallstones. So most  people with gallstones don't have any signs   or symptoms. However, gallstones can obstruct  the cystic duct, leading to inflammation of the   gallbladder, which is cholecystitis. Signs and  symptoms of cholecystitis include right upper   quadrant abdominal pain, pain after the ingestion  of high-fat foods, nausea and vomiting, bloating,   and gas. Our cool chicken hint to help you  remember the key risk factors associated   with gallbladder disease is to remember the four  F's, which include female, fat, over 40, and a   family history. In terms of nutritional guidance,  individuals with gallbladder disease are advised   to consume a low-fat diet. Specifically, unhealthy  fats such as fried foods and greasy foods should   be avoided. Experts also recommend increasing  fiber intake and avoiding refined carbohydrates.   And then individuals should lose weight, if  applicable, and get regular physical exercise.  Next, let's talk about cirrhosis, which is a  disorder characterized by damage and scarring   of the liver. Key causes of cirrhosis include  alcoholism, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease,   and chronic hepatitis. Cirrhosis can cause  a variety of symptoms, such as fatigue,   nausea and vomiting, jaundice, ascites, and  bleeding just to name a few. And if you want all   the details about cirrhosis, we have a separate  video that is just dedicated to this disorder. So   definitely check that out. In terms of nutritional  guidance for patients with cirrhosis, patients are   advised to limit their sodium intake, consume  small, frequent meals, take vitamin and mineral   supplements as ordered, and abstain from alcohol. Finally, let's talk about pancreatitis, which is   inflammation of the pancreas. Common causes  of pancreatitis include heavy alcohol use,   bile tract disease, and medications. Symptoms of  pancreatitis include severe right upper quadrant   or epigastric pain as well as nausea and vomiting.  During an acute pancreatitis attack, patients   are typically put on NPO, so nothing to eat or  drink, and given IV fluids. Ongoing, a low-fat   diet is typically recommended, and patients are  advised to abstain from alcohol and smoking. And   then individuals with chronic pancreatitis  may require pancreatic enzymes with their   meals and snacks to help assist with digestion. All right. It's quiz time. Are you guys ready?   Question number 1, is a low-fat diet recommended  for cholecystitis, pancreatitis, or both? The   answer is both. Question number 2, what diet  is recommended for a patient experiencing an   acute pancreatitis attack? The answer is NPO,  so nothing to eat or drink. Question number 3,   individuals with cirrhosis or pancreatitis are  advised to abstain from alcohol, true or false?   The answer is true. All right. That's it for  this video. I hope it was helpful. Thank you   so much for watching, and good luck with studying. I invite you to subscribe to our channel and share   a link with your classmates and friends in nursing  school. If you found value in this video, be sure   and hit the like button, and leave a comment and  let us know what you found particularly helpful