Ch 47: Bowel Elimination - SP Assessment Flashcards
(39 cards)
Some common clinical manifestations of altered bowel function are:
- Bloating
- Flatulence
- Abdomincal discomfort or pain
- Nausea and Vomiting
Some clinical manifestations of bowel DISORDERS are:
- Diarrhea
- Incontinence
- Constipation
- Impaction
Give examples of Objective and Subjective data regarding Incontinence.
- Objective data
- Patient soiling linen or clothes
- Subjective data
- Patient may or may not recognize the occurrence of bowel movement due to mental status
Give examples of Objective data regarding Constipation
- Hypoactive bowel sounds
- Extended time gap between bowel movements
- Excessive straining
- Hard feces
- Abdominal distention
Give examples of Subjective data regarding Constipation
- Rectal pain
- Abdominal cramping, pain, and/or pressure
- Urgency
- Anorexia
- Headache
Give examples of Objective data regarding Impaction
- Continuous leaking of stool, a common sign of impaction, resulting from the liquid stool above the area of the impaction seeping around the fecal mass
- Palpation of fecal mass by digital exam
- Abdominal distention
Give examples of Subjective data regarding Impaction
- Rectal pain
- Abdominal cramping, pain, and/or pressure
- Anorexia
What is the order of abdominal assessement?
- Inspection
- Auscultation
- Palpation
Abdominal inspection involves observing the…
- abdomen for:
- Symmetry (all quadrants are equal)
- Position of umbilicus
- Contour (flat, round, protuberant, as in pregnancy or obesity)
- Distention (protuberant abdomen with tight skin)
- Presence of any scars, stomas, or lesions
- Stool for
- Consistency
- Color
- Presence of blood or mucus
Describe normal bowel sounds
- High-pitched
- Soft gurgling or clicking
- Occur 4-12 times per minute
Describe abnormal Hyperactive bowel sounds
- High-pitched
- Loud
- Growling
- Occur 12 to more than 30 times per minute
Describe abnormal Hypoactive bowel sounds
- Slow
- Sluggish
- Occur less than 5 times per minute
Abscent bowel sounds are defined as…
What does this indicate?
- Definition
- No sound for five full minutes
- Indication
- obstruction or paralytic ileus
- Requires immediate medical attention
Abdomincal paplation involves…
- light pressure over the abdomen to assess for:
- Masses
- Pain
- Rigidity
- Pt reported pain sensitve areas are saved for LAST
What are the two assessement tests for fecal matter?
- Stool Culture
- Fecal Occult Blood Test
How is a Stool Culture performed?
A small feces sample is smeared onto a special medium for growing microorganisms.
Why is a Stool Culture ordered?
To detect abnormal microorganisms that can cause diarrhea
When is a Stool Culture ordered?
- Prolonged diarrhea
- Blood or mucus present in loose stools
What does a positive Stool Culture indicate?
Indicates intestinal presence of pathogens in the sample.
How is a Fecal Occult Blood Test performed?
A small feces sample that is exposed to a chemical indicator that changes color with exposure to blood.
Why is a Fecal Occult Blood Test ordered?
To detect microscopic amounts of blood in the feces.
When is a fecal Occult Blood Test ordered?
- Routine screening for colorectal cancer
- Suspicion of certain intestinal disorders, such as:
- Colon polyps
- Ulcerative colitis
- Crohn’s disease
- GI tract bleeding
What does a positive Fecal Occult Blood Test mean?
- presence of blood in stool;
- additional diagnostic testing may be necessary.
What are the three types of Gastrointestinal Diagnostic Studies?
- Barium
- Endoscopic (EDG)
- Colonoscopy
