Question

Your patient is a 52-year-old male with a history of smoking and alcohol abuse. He presents to the ED with complaints of "my skin looks yellow, my stomach hurts, and I feel nauseous". He is taken to CT and a tumor near the pancreas is observed. It appears to be blocking the common bile duct. Develop a plan of care for the patient. Use the attached concept map

Answer 1

A 52-year-old male with a history of smoking and alcohol abuse presents with jaundice and abdominal pain, and a CT scan reveals a tumor near the pancreas obstructing the bile duct. The care plan includes diagnostic procedures, symptom management, treating the underlying cause, and lifestyle adjustments.

Step-by-step explanation:

The subject of your question is a 52-year-old male patient with a history of smoking and alcohol abuse, presenting with jaundice, abdominal pain, and nausea. The CT scan findings suggest a tumor near the pancreas obstructing the common bile duct, leading to jaundice. An interdisciplinary plan of care will include further diagnostic procedures like abdominal ultrasound and possibly an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) to assess the bile duct obstruction and consultation with a gastroenterologist and an oncologist.

The treatment may involve managing symptoms, such as administering pain medication, and addressing the underlying cause by potentially surgically removing the obstruction or initiating other forms of cancer therapy if the tumor is malignant. The long-term care plan should incorporate lifestyle modifications to address the patient's smoking and alcohol habits, dietary changes, and possible referral to support groups or addiction services.