Category: Nursing essays

1. Why does colonic cancer more commonly occur on the left rather than the right side of the colon? 2. How much more likely are patients with reflux oesophagitis to develop cancer of the oesophagus than normal people and does aggressive treatment with H2-blockers or proton pump inhibitors nullify this increased risk?

1. In Crohn’s disease localized to the ileum there are long-term side effects and pros and cons of drug therapy. Is ileal resection a better option (if Crohn’s disease is localized to the ileum) than long-term medicine therapy which risks complicating lymphoma of the ileum? 2. Please could you tell me the normal range of […]

1. What is the best single test of liver function to exclude liver cell failure in 2. the routine work-up of a patient with early dementia? 3. How valuable is the measurement of the liver span in a physical 4. examination? 5. Why has the term ‘chronic liver disease’ replaced terms such as ‘chronic 6. […]

1. Can jaundice occur early in schistosomal hepatic fibrosis and, if so, how? 2. My patient has been found to have a serum bilirubin of 34 µmol/L (2mg/dL) on three occasions. The other liver tests are normal. He tells me he has Gilbert’s disease; how can I prove this? 3. Why is urinary urobilinogen increased […]

1. How does cholestatic jaundice affect the kidney? 2. What is the mechanism by which cholestatic jaundice causes bradycardia? 3. Are ‘jaundice’ and ‘icterus’ one and the same? I was taught that icterus is yellowing of the sclera, while jaundice is yellowing of the skin and the mucous membranes. As a result, carotenaemia can produce […]

I am a third-year student nurse and am currently researching a case study based on the biopsychosocial history of a patient who suffers from chronic hepatitis C, which initially occurred as a result of injecting drugs. I am confused about the biological effect of hepatitis: how exactly does it affect the liver?

1. What are the admission criteria for a case of acute viral hepatitis? 2. I would like to know where I can find details on hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection: chronic carrier, asymptomatic [normal liver function tests, HBV DNA/real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) _ 240 copies/mL, core less than 0.1]. Does a patient with such […]

In chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, when anti-hepatitis B e antibody (anti-HBe) develops (seroconversion), the antigen disappears and there is a rise in alanine transferase (ALT). However, the graph in your book (K&C 7e, p. 337, Fig. 7.16) seems to show a fall in ALT at this point. Which is correct?

1. Interferon can be used in prophylaxis from hepatitis C after exposure. Could you explain how this can be used, and what degree of success can be expected as a result? 2. What is the latest recommended drug treatment for hepatitis C? 3. Can hepatitis C disease be treated in a carrier state completely by […]

1. I am a carrier of hepatitis C (HCV) and am going to have antiviral treatment soon. Are the side-effects of antiviral treatment for HCV bound to occur? I am very worried. 2. Besides needle-pricks, how else is it possible to contract hepatitis C from a hepatitis C (HCV)-positive patient? Are the patient’s skin/sweat (or […]