Nursing Assessment Nursing Care Plan for Liver abscess
Signs and symptoms of liver abscess depend on the degree of involvement. Some patients are acutely ill; in others, the abscess is recognized only at autopsy, after death from another illness.
With a pyogenic abscess, the onset of symptoms is usually sudden; with an amebic abscess, it's more insidious. Common signs and symptoms include abdominal pain, weight loss, fever, chills, diaphoresis, nausea, vomiting, and anemia. Symptoms of right pleural effusion, such as dyspnea and pleural pain, develop if the abscess extends through the diaphragm. Liver damage may cause jaundice.
The patient may report right abdominal and shoulder pain, chills, fever, diaphoresis, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss. If the abscess extends through the diaphragm, he may complain of dyspnea and chest pain (symptoms of pleural effusion); if he has developed anemia, he may report fatigue. Inspection may disclose jaundice, a sign of liver damage. On palpation, the liver may feel enlarged, indicating hepatic disease.
Diagnostic Tests For Liver Abscess
- Ultrasonography and
- Computed tomography scan
- Blood cultures and percutaneous liver aspiration, Liver biopsy
- Urinalysis
- Stool
- Impaired Liver Function
- Acute pain
- Deficient knowledge (diagnosis and treatment)
- Imbalanced nutrition: Less than body requirements
- Risk for impaired skin integrity
- Risk for infection
- Be free of signs of liver failure as evidenced by liver function studies within normal limits (WNL) and absence of jaundice, hepatic enlargement, or altered mental status
- The patient will express feelings of comfort.
- The patient and family will express an understanding of the disease process and treatment regimen.
- The patient will achieve adequate caloric and nutritional intake.
- The patient's skin integrity will remain intact.
- The patient will remain free from signs and symptoms of infection.
- Pain Management: Alleviation of pain or a reduction in pain to a level of comfort that is acceptable to the patient. Analgesic Administration: Use of pharmacologic agents to reduce or eliminate pain. Environmental Management: Comfort: Manipulation of the patient’s surroundings for promotion of optimal comfort
- Teaching: Individual Planning, implementation, and evaluation of a teaching about Liver abscess. Learning Facilitation: Promoting the ability to process and comprehend information. Learning Readiness Enhancement: Improving the ability and willingness to receive information.
- Nutrition Management: Assisting with or providing a balanced dietary intake of foods and fluids. Weight Gain Assistance: Facilitating gain of body weight
- Skin Surveillance: Collection and analysis of patient data to maintain skin and mucous membrane integrity. Pressure Management: Minimizing pressure to body parts. Pressure Ulcer Prevention: Prevention of pressure ulcers for a patient at high risk for developing them
- Infection Protection, Infection Control, Surveillance: Prevention and early detection of infection in a patient at risk. Minimizing the acquisition and transmission of infectious agents. Purposeful and ongoing acquisition, interpretation, and synthesis of patient data for clinical decision making
Nurse Thought
