Choose 1 of the following Discussion Topics and provide your answers using appropriate medical terminology.
1. Twenty-seven-year-old Marilyn comes to the emergency room at 10 am complaining of sudden periumbilical pain that radiates to the RLQ (right lower quadrant). She says that the pain started about 2 oclock that morning and was not too bad but now is unbearable. Upon physical examination, Marilyns oral temperature is elevated to 101F (38.3C). Her abdomen is rigid, and she has rebound tenderness in the periumbilical and RLQ regions.

a. If you were the emergency room nurse, what would you suspect in Marilyns case? Why?
b. Twenty minutes later, Marilyn screams with severe pain and is sweating profusely. Her pulse is rapid and thready, and her blood pressure drops to 60 palpable. What is happening to Marilyn?

2. Forty-nineyear-old Frank has been a heavy drinker for the past 25 years. He also has a history of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and recent upper respiratory viral infection. Franks only current medication is Lasix (furosemide) 40 mg od. He presents with severe epigastric pain that radiates to his back and worsens when lying down. His abdomen is distended, and bowel sounds are hypoactive. Frank has a fever and is diaphoretic and hypotensive, and his serum calcium is very low.

a. Frank is being transferred to the ICU. If you were the ICU nurse, what would you have to consider in Franks case?
b. What would you expect in the way of treatment modalities for Frank?