Pathophysiology??

Published

I realize this may sound silly to some, but I am working on my first patient's paper work and I am not sure what the pathophysiology is, or where I find it. Can anyone help? Thanks!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.
I realize this may sound silly to some but I am working on my first patient's paper work and I am not sure what the pathophysiology is, or where I find it. Can anyone help? Thanks!!![/quote']

We can't help you if you don't tell us what the disease or medical condition is.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Oh, I wasn't wanting to get that in depth, I just wondered "what is a pathophysiology"? I am not sure what information I am looking for. What does a patho include?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

The patho is what is going on in the body in the underlying condition.....what happened~the events that are happening to cause the disease processs.........we always had to include signs and symptoms. Go to your med surg book

Up Vote Up Vote ×

thanks!!! I was having a brain bleep!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
We can't help you if you don't tell us what the disease or medical condition is.

Okay, I am still having trouble. This patient was in outpatient surgery, and brought to our unit to monitor. She came in for a cystoscopy. I have looked in my books, but I still can't find out what the pathophysiology would be. Any ideas? Thanks so much!!!:confused:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in hospice.
Okay I am still having trouble. This patient was in outpatient surgery, and brought to our unit to monitor. She came in for a cystoscopy. I have looked in my books, but I still can't find out what the pathophysiology would be. Any ideas? Thanks so much!!!:confused:[/quote']

What is the patient having the cystoscopy for? Prostate issues, other urinary issues, etc? If it's for prostate cancer, then look up the patho on that. Bottom line, look up the patho on the reason (disease=med dx) why the pt is having the procedure done.

I hope that helps!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in hospice.
I realize this may sound silly to some but I am working on my first patient's paper work and I am not sure what the pathophysiology is, or where I find it. Can anyone help? Thanks!!![/quote']

And no, it's not a silly question! We've all been there. Trust me, in a few months, you'll be able to help others with things like this.

Oh, and what I've done in the past for finding pathophysiologies (if I can't find a suitable one in my patho book, which sadly, I quite often can't...but complaining about my textbooks is a whole 'nother thread): type in the diagnosis and the word "pathophysiology" in Google (or whatever search engine you use; I use Google). For example, if you want to look up diabetic neuropathy, type in "diabetic neuropathy pathophysiology".

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

this is what i was getting to back when i first answered this thread. why was the patient sent for the cystoscopy? what is her medical disease/condition that is documented on her chart by the doctor?

pathophysiology - the study of how normal physiological processes are altered by disease (page 1421, taber's cyclopedic medical dictionary, 18th edition, published in 1997 by f.a. davis company).

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in hospice.

Daytonite is always a great resource when it comes to care plans. She's helped me more than once, even when it hasn't been one of my questions. :bow:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Honestly, her admitting diagnosis was cystoscopy. She was having low abdominal pain. Doc found mass in bladder, sent to hospital for biopsy, ended up being scar tissue around a suture from years and years ago when she had her bladder tacked. Now I am searching for nursing diagnosis, interventions, rationals and goals for this patient, who basically has no disease to work with. She was sent up to our unit for recovery and observation. I actually called my clinical instructor and asked her. She said no to worry with the patho on this pt, and to move on. So, I am stuck again. I must have 3 diagnosis and use two of these to write care plans. I am thinking - Risk for infection from cath, Risk for infection at IV site, and risk for falls (she is on fall precautions). Is there something I am missing, or am I making this WAY to hard and over thinking this? Thanks for your help, I really do appreciate it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

Did you read the H&P? There had to be one or they wouldn't have allowed her in the OR procedure rooms. The OR nurses are very anal about that. Docs don't do cystos on people who have low abdominal pain. Did she have this pain only when she urinated? She had other symptoms and I'm betting they had to do with voiding. If you had that information then you could diagnose something like Impaired Urinary Elimination.

  • Pain R/T scar tissue around a retained suture
  • Risk for Infection R/T invasive procedure [a post-cysto UTI, not the IV]
  • Risk for Falls R/T history of falling

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion