Pharmacology Case Studies Discussion Essay
Pharmacology Case Studies Discussion Essay
Discussion Post
The patient in the case study presents with epigastric pain and burping, which could be associated with indigestion issues. The pain is attributed to the production of acid in the stomach to digest the food. The gastric acid irritates the digestive system’s lining (Fuchs, 2020). It is necessary to collect further patient’s history to help make the most accurate diagnosis. In this case, the patient has a five-week history and the condition worsens after eating. Therefore, the patient could be having acid reflux. Burping is a way of relieving gas accumulating in the gastrointestinal tract due to acidity.
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While an impression of GERD is developed on sight, it is important to take the patient’s history and determine whether they could be having dysphagia among other signs and symptoms (Fuchs, 2020). The assessment will help in the identification of the red flags that could lead to a further diagnosis. Gastric belching is characterized by a high impedance level beginning from the distal channel and developing to the proximal channels. There are cases where a patient may develop ramifications due to the supragastric belching. However, such clinical manifestations are not present in this case.
The treatment plan will involve the administration of proton pump inhibitors to manage the acidity. Zad and Bredenoord (2020) explain that proton-pump inhibitors are commonly used in treating GERD and could help in relieving belches. The drugs reduce the unpleasant abdominal sensational that could result in supra-gastric belching. Furthermore, impedance monitoring should be initiated as the gold standard for the monitoring of the belching. Other than pharmacotherapy, patient education is highly recommended (Van der Pol & Benninga, 2017). According to the American College of Gastroenterology, the treatment of GERD should focus on addressing the presenting signs and symptoms to avoid further complications and then recommending lifestyle modification (Zad & Bredenoord, 2020). The patient must be aware of certain foods that trigger the production of acid and avoid them. Acid reflux is a long-term condition that could cause severe complications if not managed properly. The patient must consciously work to maintain the developed therapeutic intervention until their conditions improve. The constant corrosive effect of the acid could lead to ulcers among other outcomes. The treatment guideline defined by the American College of Gastroenterology was adopted in this study.
Lifestyle modifications will also be recommended for this patient. The patient will be advised to avoid spicy food. The indigestions can be attributed to a lack of enough fiber in the dietary intake. Recommending a high intake of fruits and vegetables will be significant for this patient. Besides, the patient will be advised to take small regular meals to minimize the corrosive effects of the acid on the stomach lining. The patient will be instructed to avoid any food that triggers epigastric pain. In addition, she will be advised to engage in regular physical exercise to help improve bowel movements. Similarly, Zad and Bredenoord (2020) indicates explain that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is important for the treatment of burping. The CBT involves sessions of cognitive, behavioral, and assessment of the treatment outcomes. The focus of the therapy should be to help the patient identify the etiology of the disease and the possible triggering factors. The proposed plan in this study seeks to ensure full recovery of the patient from the epigastric pain and burping.
Reference
Fuchs, K. (2020). Definition and pathophysiology of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Management of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-48009-7_1
Van der Pol, R. E., & Benninga, M. A. (2017). Antacids and alginates in the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Esophageal and Gastric Disorders in Infancy and Childhood, 983-986. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-11202-7_87
Zad, M., & Bredenoord, A. J. (2020). Chronic burping and belching. Current Treatment Options in Gastroenterology, 18(1), 33-42. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11938-020-00276-0
Clara has a five-week history of epigastric pain that is worse after she eats. The pain is minimally relieved by Mylanta or burping. She has come to your office for evaluation and your initial impression is gastritis. What is your recommendation and treatment plan? What clinical guidelines support your decision and why?