Sample interview questions: How do you assess and manage patients with gastrointestinal disorders related to radiation therapy?
Sample answer:
Assessment:
- Medical history: Review radiation therapy history, including dose, location, and duration.
- Physical examination: Inspect for abdominal distension, ascites, palpable masses, or skin changes (e.g., erythema, desquamation).
- Laboratory tests: Complete blood count, electrolytes, liver function tests, and inflammatory markers (e.g., C-reactive protein).
- Imaging studies: Abdominal ultrasound, computed tomography, or magnetic resonance imaging to evaluate organ damage, obstruction, or fistula formation.
Management:
Acute Effects:
- Nausea and vomiting: Anti-emetics (e.g., ondansetron, granisetron)
- Diarrhea: Antiemetics (e.g., loperamide, bismuth subsalicylate)
- Cystitis: Urinary analgesics (e.g., phenazopyridine)
Chronic Effects:
- Radiation enteritis:
- Dietary modifications: Low-fat, high-protein diet with small frequent meals
- Anti-inflammatories: Corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone) or mesalamine
- Proton pump inhibitors
- Somatostatin analogs (e.g., octreotide)
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