Bowel Elimination Flashcards
Where does digestion begin? Where does it end?
- Mouth
2. Small Intestine
What are the three tasks that the stomach performs?
- storage
- mixing
- emptying
What are the 4 secretions of the stomach and what function do they perform?
- HCl (digestion)
- mucus (protection
- pepsin (digestion)
- intrinsic factor (absorption of Vit B12)
What are the three sections of the small intestine?
- duodenum
- jejunum
- ilium
What is absorbed in the jejunum?
carbohydrates and proteins
What is absorbed in the ilium?
water, fats, some vitamins, iron and bile salts
What is absorbed in the duodenum?
most of the nutrients and electrolytes
What are the 3 parts of the large intestine?
- cecum
- colon
- rectum
What are the 4 parts of the colon?
- ascending
- transverse
- descending
- sigmoid colon
What are the 3 functions of the colon?
- absorption
- secretion
- elimination
What is absorbed in the large intestine?
- water
- sodium
- chloride
What is the term for any forced expiratory effort against a closed airway such as when an individual holds his or her breath and tightens his or her muscles in a concerted, strenuous effort?
Valsalva maneuver
What is the term for temporary paralysis of intestinal wall that may occur after abdominal surgery or peritoneal injury that causes cessation of peristalsis?
paralytic ileus
How long does paralytic ileus usually last?
24-48 hrs
What condition does paralytic ileus lead to?
abdominal distention
What does the overuse of laxatives cause?
serious diarrhea
What are common signs and symptoms of GI upset?
- nausea
- vomiting
- indigestion
- diarrhea
- constipation
What is the normal range for bilirubin?
0.3-1mg/dL
What causes an increased bilirubin?
- hepatobiliary disease
- bile duct obstruction
- certain anemias
- following transfusions
What is the normal range for Alkaline phosphotase?
30-120 units/L
What causes an increased alkaline phosphotase?
- obstructive hepatobiliary diseases
- hepatobiliary carcinomas
- bone tumors
- healing fractures
What is the normal range for amylase?
60-120 somogyi units
What causes an increased amylase?
- abnormalities of the pancreas
- cholecystitis
- necrotic bowel
- diabetic ketoacidosis
What action must the patient take before performing a fecal occult blood test?
patient must void first to avoid contamination of the specimen
What does white or clay feces indicate?
absence of bile
What does black or tarry feces indicate?
- iron ingestion
- upper GI bleeding
What does red feces indicate?
- hemorrhoids
- lower GI bleeding
What does pale, fatty feces indicate?
malabsorption of fat
What does translucent mucus in feces indicate?
- spastic constipation
- colitis
- excessive straining
What does blood mucus in feces indicate?
- blood in feces
- inflammation
- infection
What is the term for the instillation of a solution into the rectum and sigmoid colon?
enema
What is the primary reason for an enema?
to promote defecation by stimulating peristalsis
What are the indications for the use of an enema?
- temporary relief of constipation
- removing impacted feces
- emptying of bowel before diagnostic test/surgery
- beginning a program of bowel training
What are the 6 common types of enemas?
- cleansing enemas
- tap water (hypotonic)
- normal saline
- hypertonic (fleet)
- soapsuds
- oil retention
- carminative (flatus)
- medicated (kayexalate, neomycin solution)
When is digital removal of stool indicated?
when all other methods have failed
What are the 4 purposes of nasogastric intubation?
- decompression
- enteral feeding
- compression
- lavage
Why does a patient with an ostomy wear a pouch?
to collect effluent (stool discharged from the stoma)
What is the normal stoma color?
bright pink or brick red
How can a patient keep their feces soft?
- eating foods high in fiber
- increased fluid intake
What are the dangers of digital removal of stool?
- traumatizing the rectal mucosa
- promoting vagal stimulation (decreases HR)
