Bowel Elimination

Question 1

• Absorb fluid and nutrients
• Temporary storage of feces
• Balancing fluid and electrolyte levels
• Allow elimination of waste and gas

Answer 1

Functions of GI tract

Question 2

Digestion begins with mastication.

Answer 2

Mouth

Question 3

Peristalsis moves food into the stomach

Answer 3

Esophagus

Question 4

Stores food; mixes food, liquid, and digestive juices; moves food into small intestines

Answer 4

Stomach

Question 5

Duodenum, jejunum, and ileum

Answer 5

Small Intestine

Question 6

The primary organ of bowel elimination

Answer 6

Large Intestine

Question 7

Expels feces and flatus from the rectum

Answer 7

Anus

Question 8

These structures are necessary for the defecation process.

Answer 8

Organ of the GI tract

Question 9

Physiological factors critical to bowel function and defecation include?

Answer 9

• normal GI tract function,
• sensory awareness of rectal distention and rectal contents,
• voluntary sphincter control, and
• adequate rectal capacity and compliance.

Question 10

begins with movement in the left colon, moving stool toward the anus.
When stool reaches the rectum, distention causes relaxation of the internal sphincter and awareness of the need to defecate.
At the time of defecation, the external sphincter relaxes, and abdominal muscles contract, increasing intrarectal pressure and forcing the stool out.

Answer 10

Normal defecation process

Question 11

Sometimes people use to assist in stool passage.
This method exerts pressure to expel feces through voluntary contraction of the abdominal muscles while maintaining forced expiration against a closed airway.

Answer 11

Valsalva maneuver

Question 12

Increase risk for cardiac dysrhythmias and HTN using a valsalva maneuver

Answer 12

Patients with cardiovascular disease, glaucoma, increased intracranial pressure, or a new surgical wound

Question 13

is painless, resulting in passage of soft, formed stool.

Answer 13

Normal defecation

Question 14

Approximately 20 feet long

Extends from the stomach to the large intestine

Answer 14

Small Intestine

Question 15

First 10 inches

Answer 15

Duodenum

Question 16

About 8 feet long

Answer 16

Jejunum

Question 17

About 11 feet long

Answer 17

Ileum

Question 18

where is digestion completed?

Answer 18

Small Intestine

Question 19

enzymes that function in the small intestine to assist in digestion

Answer 19

bile and pancreatic enzymes

Question 20

where is vitamins and mineral absorbed?

Answer 20

small intestine

Question 21

Extends from the ileum to the Anus
Approximately 5 feet long
No Digestion takes place in the large intestine

Answer 21

large intestine

Question 22

Stores and eliminates undigested waste

Absorbs water, vitamins and minerals

Answer 22

Functions of large intestine

Question 23

Cecum
Appendix
Ascending Colon
Transverse Colon
Descending Colon
Sigmoid Colon
Rectum
Anus

Answer 23

Large Intestine

Question 24

can give nurses a lot of information; therefore it is important to ask questions related to bowel elimination & monitor this

Answer 24

Fecal Assessment

Question 25

fecal characteristics | ascending colon

Answer 25

fluid feces

Question 26

fecal characteristics | between ascending colon and transverse colon

Answer 26

semifluid feces

Question 27

fecal characteristics | along transverse colon

Answer 27

mushy feces

Question 28

fecal characteristics | between transverse and descending colon

Answer 28

semi mushy feces

Question 29

fecal characteristics | descending

Answer 29

semi solid feces

Question 30

fecal characteristics | below or within sigmoid colon

Answer 30

solid feces

Question 31

Separate hard lumps like nuts (difficult to pass)

Answer 31

Type 1 | Constipation

Question 32

Sausage shaped but lumpy

Answer 32

Type 2

Question 33

Like a sausage but with cracks on surface

Answer 33

Type 3

Question 34

Like sausage or snake, smooth and soft

Answer 34

Type 4

Question 35

Soft blobs with clear-cut edges and soft

Answer 35

Type 5

Question 36

Fluffy pieces with ragged edges, a mushy stool

Answer 36

Type 6

Question 37

Watery, no solid pieces (entirely liquid)

Answer 37

Type 7

Question 38

is a symptom of something is going on, not a disease

Answer 38

Constipation

Question 39

Improper diet, reduced fluid intake, lack of exercise, and certain medications causes?

Answer 39

Constipation

Question 40

``` infrequent bowel movements (less often than every 3 days), difficulty passing stools, excessive straining, inability to defecate at will, and hard feces ```

Answer 40

Signs of constipation

Question 41

slows the heart rate that may occurs during straining while defecating, taking rectal temperatures, completion of enemas, and digital removal of impacted stool.

Answer 41

Vagal stimulation

Question 42

is a significant health hazard

Answer 42

Constipation

Question 43

Health issues that need to prevent constipation and avoid using the Valsalva maneuver.

Answer 43

patients with a history of cardiovascular disease, diseases causing elevated intraocular pressure (glaucoma), or increased intracranial pressure

Question 44

causes problems for the patient with recent abdominal, gynecological, or rectal surgery.

Answer 44

Straining during defecation

Question 45

Factors Affecting Elimination

Answer 45

``` Age Fluid intake Psychological factors Position during defecation Pregnancy Medications, laxatives, and cathartics Diet Physical activity Personal habits Pain Surgery and anesthesia Diagnostic tests ```

Question 46

A symptom, not a disease; infrequent stool and/or hard, dry, small stools that are difficult to eliminate

Answer 46

Constipation

Question 47

Results from unrelieved constipation; a collection of hardened feces wedged in the rectum that a person cannot expel

Answer 47

Impaction

Question 48

an increase in the number of stools and the passage of liquid, unformed feces

Answer 48

Diarrhea

Question 49

Inability to control passage of feces and gas to the anus

Answer 49

Incontinence

Question 50

Accumulation of gas in the intestines causing the walls to stretch

Answer 50

Flatulence

Question 51

Dilated, engorged veins in the lining of the rectum

Answer 51

Hemorrhoids

Question 52

What medications that may affect the GI System?

Answer 52

``` NSAIDS Aspirin Stool Softeners/Laxatives Enemas Narcotics Anticholinergic Agents ```

Question 53

How to assess Bowel pattern and habits What shall we ask? Physical Assessment What shall we do?

Answer 53

Last BM, color, consistency, nl frequency, nutritional habits, etc Auscultate bowel, sounds, inspect & palpate abdomen

Question 54

Diagnostic Tests for bowel assessment

Answer 54

``` Stool Specimens Fecal Occult Blood Test (Guaiac Test) Radiographic Test (X-Ray) Contrast Studies Endoscopy Colonoscopy ```

Question 55

How and why stool specimen is collected (for Ova and Parasite)

Answer 55

Detects intestinal infections Series of three stools are usually collected Specimens are collected with a tongue blade and placed in a container with a preservative Stool must be examined within 30 minutes of collection

Question 56

When should the stool be examined?

Answer 56

within 30 minutes of collection

Question 57

also called super infection

Answer 57

C. Diff. (Clostridium Difficile)

Question 58

How to prevent C. Diff spread?

Answer 58

Wash hand thoroughly with | soap and water

Question 59

C. Diff precautions

Answer 59

Contact Precautions

Question 60

Before the isolation is lifted for patient affected with C. Diff.

Answer 60

48 hours of no diarrhea