Bowels Flashcards
what factors can slow bowels
meds (narcotics- constipation)
anesthesia
diagnostic tests
stress
what do you chart for stool
occurrences
volume
color
odor
consistency
shape
what meds cause diarrhea
antibiotics
opioids
recommended fiber intake
25-30 g
recommended fluid intake
2-3L
how does surgery and anesthesia affect bowels
stops peristalsis
*can cause small bowel obstruction
stools with cystic fibrosis
fatty and foul smelling
why is flatus important
tells us bowels are moving
amount for stool culture and sensitivity
1 inch or 15-30 mL
what is guaiac
occult (hidden, cant be seen) blood
before an occult test, pt must limit
red meat
direct visualization examples
colonoscopy
sigmoidoscopy
wireless capsule
indirect visualization examples
barium enema
barium swallow
CT
ultrasound
in occult blood what color is positive
blue
what color is an Upper GI bleed
dark black
coffee grounds
tarry
what color is a lower GI bleed
bright red
when doing rectal exams how should pt be positioned
left side lying
what do we give someone going through barium
fluids and laxatives
*barium hardens
constipation
dry hard stool that is hard to pass
impaction
hard immovable mass of stool
what does fecal impaction cause
increased pressure in colon-
causes necrosis and ulceration/perforation
diarrhea
liquid stool from food passing through intestines rapidly before water is absorbed
*supportive (gets pathogens out)
good colon prep
significant suctioning
fair prep
semi solid stool
poor prep
<90% of mucosa seen and cannot be suctioned
hemorrhoids
distended veins in rectal folds
bright red bleeding
small bowel obstruction
stoppage of peristalsis
bulk forming laxatives
Metamucil
bulks stool which causes peristalsis or propulsion
stool softeners
Colace
pulls liquid into stool to help it pass
stimulant laxatives
Dulcolax
causes peristalsis by irritating bowel wall
*causes pain and cramping
tell tale sign impaction is high up in GI
fluid from rectum bc only liquid can get around impaction
3 things to help treat constipation
fluid
fiber
stool softener
DONT do digital disimpaction on
cardiac pts
digital disimpaction requirements
left side lying
rectum only
double glove
lubricant
enema
liquid through tube into bowel
what temp do we want enema
room temp
stop enema if
pt complains of cramping
tap water
normal saline
soap suds
enema amount
500-1000 mL
fleets hypertonic enema amount
70-130 mL
oil retention enema amount
150-200 mL
tap water and normal saline enema action
distends intestines
increases peristalsis
softens stools
soap suds enema action
distends intestine
irritates intestinal mucosa
softens stools
fleets hypertonic enema action
distends intestine
irritates intestinal mucosa
oil retention enema action
lubricates stool and intestinal mucosa
bowel perforation is often
fatal
two causes of bowel perforation
fecal impaction
enemas
stool in the sigmoid colostomy
solid
stool in the ascending colostomy
partially liquid
stool in the descending colostomy
formed and soft
stool in the transverse colostomy
soft and pasty
stool in the ileostomy
liquid
stoma should be what color
beefy red
second leading cause of cancer deaths
colorectal cancer
*40% more common in men
why is stool culture first step in diarrhea treatment
bc if bacteria is causing it we dont want to stop diarrhea
stoma bag diet
increase fiber (grains, oats, veggies)
decrease gas causing foods (beans, alcohol, beer, cabbage, brussels)
