Question: FC Is A 54-year-old Man With A History Of Chronic Heavy Alcohol Use. Last Year, He Had Gastrointestinal Bleeding For Which He Was Hospitalized. Recently, He Was Hit By A Car And Was Hospitalized For A Broken Leg Which Was Treated With Open Reduction And Internal Fixation. On Post Op Day 2, He Complains Of A Steady Pain In The Epigastrium That Radiates …

FC is a 54-year-old man with a history of chronic heavy alcoholuse. Last year, he had gastrointestinal bleeding for which he washospitalized. Recently, he was hit by a car and was hospitalizedfor a broken leg which was treated with open reduction and internalfixation. On post op day 2, he complains of a steady pain in theepigastrium that radiates to his back. He refuses breakfast andstates, “I feel like throwing up.” The nurse notes decreased boweltones. Vital signs are as follow:

BP 110/65

HR 100

Temp 100 F

RR 20

0₂ Saturation 96% on RA

Labs:

Amylase 350 units/L

Lipase 420 units/L

ALT: 60 units/L

AST: 120 units/L

Alk phos 100 units/L

Bilirubin (total) 0.15

1. What diagnosis should the nurse suspect? Why?
2. What are Frank’s risk factors for this diagnosis?

3. What orders might the nurse expect?