An 83-year-old resident of a skilled nursing facility presents to the emergency department with generalized edema of extremities and abdomen. History obtained from staff reveals t

6501 Summer 2024

Week 1 Discussion Case

Dr. Holbrook

Scenario: 

An 83-year-old resident of a skilled nursing facility presents to the emergency department with generalized edema of extremities and abdomen. History obtained from staff reveals the patient has a history of malabsorption syndrome and difficulty eating due to a lack of dentures. The patient has been diagnosed with protein malnutrition.

By Day 3 of Week 1

Post an explanation of the disease highlighted in the scenario you were provided. Include the following 5 points in your explanation, usually a paragraph with citation(s) should suffice to cover each point. Citations would reflect classroom textbook, primary, current peer-reviewed journal articles (published in last 5 yr.) usually, 3 references will support your points.

• The role genetics plays in the disease. (May or may not be applicable to patient. For example, protein malabsorption in elders does not have a genetic basis in this case).
• Why the patient is presenting with the specific symptoms described.
• The physiologic response to the stimulus presented in the scenario and why you think this response occurred.
• The cells that are involved in this process.
• How another characteristic (e.g., gender, genetics, age) would change your response. i.e. What might be a characteristic influencing your response?

The scenario reflects this to be an unidentified race, so if this patient was African American would this create characteristics influenced by race? It may or may not just support your point with a citation. 

In this elderly female, there are several contributing factors for her presenting with these symptoms.

If you do not find any genetic factors contributing, provide a citation supporting this. As a student, be sure to support your points until you become the expert. Reading and providing rigorous, valid references starts the advanced practice journey from writing up a case study to actual patient management.