A nurse is caring for a client who has a postoperative ileus and an NG tube that has drained 2,500 mL in the past 6 hr. Which of the following electrolyte imbalances should the nurse monitor the client for?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Decreased potassium level. Postoperative ileus can lead to fluid and electrolyte imbalances. When a client has been draining a large volume of gastric fluid through an NG tube, it can lead to potassium depletion. Potassium is a major intracellular electrolyte and plays a crucial role in muscle function, including smooth muscle in the intestines. The loss of potassium through excessive drainage can lead to hypokalemia, which can further impair bowel function and exacerbate the ileus. Monitoring potassium levels is essential to prevent complications. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because elevated sodium, magnesium, and calcium levels are not typically associated with postoperative ileus and excessive NG tube drainage.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: vitamins. Vitamins are absorbed in the GI tract without being digested because they are already in a form that can be easily absorbed by the body. Unlike starch, proteins, and triglycerides which require digestion by enzymes to break them down into smaller molecules for absorption, vitamins are typically small molecules that can be directly absorbed into the bloodstream. Therefore, vitamins do not undergo digestion in the GI tract and are absorbed as they are. Starch, proteins, and triglycerides require digestion to be broken down into their respective components before they can be absorbed.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: opening into the oropharynx. The fauces are the opening at the back of the mouth that leads into the oropharynx, connecting the mouth to the throat. This is where food and liquid pass through when swallowing. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because the fauces specifically refer to the opening into the oropharynx, not the space between the cheek and gums, the cavity containing the tongue and teeth, or the opening into the larynx.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A because the esophagus contains skeletal muscles at the superior end (upper part) for voluntary control during swallowing and smooth muscles at the inferior end (lower part) for involuntary peristalsis to move food to the stomach. This arrangement allows for both conscious and unconscious control of food movement. Now, let's analyze why the other choices are incorrect: B: The esophagus does have a tunica submucosa, which is important for support and nourishment of the mucosa. C: Villi and microvilli are found in the small intestine, not the esophagus, and they increase surface area for nutrient absorption. D: The esophagus does have a tunica mucosa, which contains mucous glands to aid in lubrication and protection of the lining.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C because duodenal cells release secretin in response to low pH in chyme. Secretin inhibits gastric secretions by stimulating the pancreas to release bicarbonate-rich fluid to neutralize the acidic chyme. Option A is incorrect because gastric inhibitory polypeptide and cholecystokinin actually stimulate pancreatic secretion, not inhibit gastric secretions. Option B is incorrect as the enterogastric reflex decreases gastric secretions to slow down the rate of emptying the stomach, not increase it. Option D is incorrect because enterogastrone is a hypothetical hormone and not involved in the regulation of gastric secretions.