Which of the following are common clinical manifestations of appendicitis?
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Case Study Appendicitis
difficulty: Advanced
setting: Hospital
index Words: appendicitis, assessment, developmental care, differential diagnosis, maintenance fluid calculations, discharge teaching, legal aspects, outcomes management, preoperative care, postoperative care
giddens Concepts: Clinical Judgment, development, Inflammation, Pain, Tissue Integrity
Hesi Concepts: Advocacy/ethical/Legal Issues, Assessment, Clinical decision Making—Clinical Judgment, developmental, Inflammatory, Pain, Tissue Integrity
R.O. is a 12-year-old girl who lives with her family on a farm in a rural community. R.O. has four siblings who have recently been ill with stomach pains, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever. They were seen by their pri- mary care provider (PCP) and diagnosed with viral gastroenteritis. A week later, R.O. woke up at 0200 cry- ing and telling her mother that her stomach “hurts really bad!” she had an elevated temperature of 37.9 ° C (100.2 ° F). R.O. began to vomit over the next few hours, so her parents took her to the local emergency department (ed). R.O.’s vital signs, complete blood count, and complete metabolic panel were normal, so she was hydrated with IV fluids and discharged to home with instructions for her parents to call their PCP or to return to the ed if her condition did not improve or if it worsened. Over the next 2 days, R.O.’s abdominal pain localized to the right lower quadrant, she refused to eat, and she had slight diarrhea. On the third day, she began to have more severe abdominal pain, increased vomiting, and fever that did not respond to acetaminophen. R.O. has returned to the ed. Her Vs are 128/78, 130, 28, 39.5 ° C (103.1 ° F).
· scenario
R.O. is guarding her lower abdomen, prefers to lie on her side with her legs flexed, and is crying. IV access is established, and morphine sulfate 2 mg IV is administered for pain. An abdominal CT scan confirms a diagnosis of appendicitis. R.O.’s white blood count is 12,000 mm3.
1. Which of the following are common clinical manifestations of appendicitis? Select all that apply.
a. Diarrhea
b. Vomiting
c. Left lower quadrant abdominal pain
d. Constipation
e. Arthralgia
f. Diffuse rash
g. Fever
2. Discuss why R.O.’s presenting clinical manifestations make diagnosis more difficult. Identify two other possible diagnoses.
Part 2 Pediatric, Maternity, and WoMen’s HealtH cases
598
Copyright © 2016 by Mosby, Inc., an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
12 Pediatric Disorders
Case Study Progress
The abdominal CT scan confirms that R.O. has appendicitis. The ed physician has written orders.
3. Note whether the orders are appropriate or inappropriate and give rationale.
Chart View
Emergency Department (ED) Orders
a. Make patient NPO
b. Place a peripheral IV and begin D5½NS at 80 mL/hr
c. Administer Fleet Enema now to rule out impaction
d. Administer morphine sulfate 2 mg IV q2h for pain
e. Obtain surgical consent from patient
f. Administer cefotaxime (Claforan) IVPB, at 150 mg/kg/day q6h
4. R.O.’s weight is 42 kg, and her height is 155 cm. Calculate her maintenance fluid needs and discuss how these will be met.
5. R.O.’s parents give informed consent, and R.O. assents to the surgery after the procedure is explained to her. Why is it important for R.O. to provide her assent for the procedure?
6. What should be included in the preoperative teaching for R.O. and her parents?
Case Study Progress
R.O. undergoes an appendectomy; the appendix has ruptured. The peritoneum is inflamed and abscesses are seen near the colon and small intestine. R.O. is admitted to the surgical unit; she is NPO, has a nasoga- stric tube (NGT), Foley catheter, IV line, abdominal dressing, and a Penrose drain.
7. Identify the priority nursing considerations. Select all that apply.
a. Reduced bowel function
b. Pain
c. Skin integrity changes
d. Cardiac output changes
e. Changed family processes
f. Potential hypothermia
g. Potential fluid and electrolyte imbalance