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Bowel Care, Constipation, and Diarrhea

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Question
Answer
Temporary large stoma in the transverse colon   loop colostomy  
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Safest solution to use for an enema   normal saline  
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Surgical creation of two distinct stomas   double-barrel colostomy  
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Type of enema that lubricates the rectum and colon   oil retention  
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Stool discharged from an ostomy   Effluent  
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Agents that irritate the intestinal mucosa to increase motility   cathartics  
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High-fiber substances that increase intestinal bulk   bulk-forming agents  
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Agent used when pouching an ostomy   skin barrier  
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The small intestine (specifically the duodenum and jejunum) absorb   most of the nutrients and electrolytes.  
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The ileum absorbs   certain vitamins, iron, and bile salts.  
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The colon absorbs   water, sodium, and chloride from the digested food that has passed from the small intestine.  
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The esophagus moves food   from the mouth to the stomach.  
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Routine screening for colon cancer includes   fecal occult blood testing.  
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The maximum volume of enema to be administered to an adult is   750 to 1000 ml.  
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A nurse trained to care for ostomy clients is   A wound-ostomy-continence nurse (WOCN) is a nurse with special training in caring for ostomy clients.  
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Hot and cold foods stimulate   peristalsis, which can cause abdominal cramping and further diarrhea. Thus room-temperature liquids are better tolerated.  
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What drugs increase chance of gastrointestinal bleeding?   Aspirin and NSAIDs may cause gastrointestinal bleeding.  
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Antidiarrheal opiate agents slow   the motility in the gastrointestinal tract.  
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Cathartics increase   gastrointestinal tract motility  
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What foods increase gas?   beans, onions, and cauliflower  
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Nausea, liquid stool, and continuous bowel sounds are all symptoms of   an impaction.  
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Fish and some raw vegetables can produce false-positive results in what?   fecal occult blood test - if consumed during the collection of stool for occult blood testing.  
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Put patient in what position while doing enema?   Left Sims Position when - should be inserted apx 3 in - hold it in as long as possible – 30 – 45 minutes is idea –Never give while on toilet.  
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3 tasks stomach performs   storing swallowed food & liquid, mixing, and emptying contents into sm. Intestine – secrets HCL, mucus, pepsin, and intrinsic factor.  
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Pepsin and HCL facilitate digestion of   protein  
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Intrinsic factor essential for?   vit B12 absorption  
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Sm. Intestine has 3 sections   duodenum (8-11 in), jejunum (8ft) and ileum (12ft).  
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3 functions of colon   absorption, secretion, elimination  
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Lg intestine divided into what 3 parts   cecum, colon, and rectum  
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__ is primary organ of bowel elimination   lg intestine  
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Where does chyme enter lg intestine?   ileocecal valve  
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Lg intestine absorbs what?   water, sodieum, and choloride  
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Healthy adult absorbs more than __ water every 4 hours   a gallon  
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If peristalsis is abnormally fast, what will happen?   watery stools because less time to absorb water.  
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If peristaltic contractions slow down, what will happen?   hard stools and constipation  
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What is secreted in the colon?   bicarbonate is secreted in exchange for chloride – also potassium (4 – 9 mEq) is secreted daily  
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What is the main stimulus for peristaltic contrations?   intestinal content – mass movements usually only 3 – 4 times daily & strongest 1 hr after mealtime  
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Normal defecation begins where?   movement in left colon, moving stool toward anus.  
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Bulk foods promote   peristalsis  
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Constipation is due to decreased   peristalsis  
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Rectum   Final portion of lg intestine - Usually empty prior to defecation - Contains both vertical and transverse folds of tissue  
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Anus   expels both flatus & feces through contraction & relaxation of internal & external sphincters  
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Sphincters innervated by   sympathetic and parasympathetic systems  
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Digestive process is affected how during stress?   accelerated and peristalsis is increased - diarrhea and gaseous distention – colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcers, and Crohn’s disease.  
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Digestive process is affected how during depression?   anutonomic NS slows impulses & peristalsis decreases – constipation  
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In what position is it impossible to contract muscles used during defication?   supine position.  
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Inhaled anesthetic agents do what to intestinal musculature?   block parasympathetic impulses and slows waves.  
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Paralytic ileus   usually lasts about 24 – 48 hrs –temporarily stopped peristalsis – usually after direct manipulation of bowel.  
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Laxatives and cathartics do what?   soften stool and promote peristalsis  
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Chronic use of cathartic cause lg intestine to   lose muscle tone and become less responsive to stimulation  
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Mineral oil lax can have what neg effect?   decreases fat-soluble vitamin absorption and influence efficacy of other meds by altering transit time  
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What can cause constipation?   improper diet, dehydration, lack of exercise, meds, parkinsons, MS, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetic neuropathy, ED, electrolyte imbal.  
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How does aspirin affect GI system?   prostaglandin inhibitor – interferes with formation of protective mucus and causes GI bleeding  
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Factors Affection Bowel Function   Age – peristalsis slows, Diet - fiber, gas-producing foods, lactose intolerance; Fluid intake, NG; Activity, Weak muscle tone (illness or neurological disease), stress, Personal habits, Med, Post-op  
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Diarrhea - passage of liquid, unformed feces - Caused by   disorders of digestion, absorption, antibiotic use, enteral feedings, food allergies, pathogens  
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In diarrhea Contents pass too quickly to allow   absorption of water & nutrients  
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NANDA’s regarding bowels   Bowel Incontinence, Constipation, Risk for; Perceived, Diarrhea, Impaired Skin Integrity, Self-care Deficit, toileting  
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Bowel Retraining: Goal   To achieve normal bowel control in patients w/ fecal incontinence who have neuromuscular control  
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How to bowel retrain   Assess pt. normal pattern & time of incontinence, Stool softener qd, cathartic suppository ½ hour before desired time of defecation, Offer hot drink or fruit juice (prune juice) to stimulate peristalsis  
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Physical assessment of abdomen for distention, bowel sounds   aucultate for 5 minutes if you don’t hear bowl sounds.  
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Assess fecal characteristics   usually darkish brown, red streaks indicate blood, black = old blood  
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Dicyclomine HCL (Bentyl)   suppress peristalsis and decreases gastric emptying  
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Opiod analgesics   slow persitalsis and segmental contractions – constipation  
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Anticholinergic drugs such as atropine or glycopyrrolate (Robinul)   Inhibit gastric acid secretion and depress GI motility – usful in treating hyperactive bowel disorders – constipation  
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Fluoroguinolones   antibiotic – produce diarrhea by disrupting normal bacterial flora  
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Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs   causes GI irritation – increases bleeding  
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Histamine2 (H2) antagonists   suppress secretion of HCL and interferes w/digestion of some foods  
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Iron   causes discoloration of stool (black), nausea, vomiting, constipation and ab craps  
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Fecal occult blood or guiac testing   FOBT, or guaiac test, measures microscopic amounts of blood in feces - diagnostic screening tool for colon cancer  
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Normal bowel sounds occur every   5 to 15 seconds and last a second to several seconds.  
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You hear __with abdominal distention.   an increase in pitch or a tinkling sound  
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Absent (no auscultated bowel sounds) or hypoactive sounds (less than five/min) occur with   paralytic ileus, such as after abdominal surgery.  
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High-pitched and hyperactive bowel sounds (35 or more/min) occur with   sm intestine obstruction and inflammatory disorders.  
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What is normal frequency of bowel movements?   Once a day to every 3 days  
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Signs of constipation usually include   infrequent bowel movements (less than every 3 days), difficulty passing stools, excessive straining, inability to defecate at will, and hard feces  
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Although similar, laxatives are milder in action than   cathartics.  
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BCOC   bowel care of choice – like colace, mag citrate, fleet enema  
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Vagal stimulation   slows the heart rate, occurs during straining while defecating, taking rectal temperatures, enemas, and digital removal of impacted stool  
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ileostomy bypasses the entire   large intestine - stools are frequent and liquid - same for a colostomy of the ascending colon.  
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A colostomy of the transverse colon generally results in   more solid, formed stool.  
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The sigmoid colostomy releases   near-normal stool.  
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Three types of colostomy construction   loop colostomy, end colostomy, and double-barrel colostomy  
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Loop colostomy is usually performed in an emergency when health care providers anticipate   closure of the colostomy - usually temp large stomas constructed in transverse colon - loop of bowel onto abdomen  
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End colostomy consists of one stoma formed from   proximal end of bowel w/distal portion either removed or sewn closed (called Hartmann's pouch) & left in the abdominal cavity  
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Unlike the loop colostomy, the bowel is surgically severed in a ___, and the two ends are brought out onto the abdomen   double-barrel colostomy  
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Bulk-forming lax   e.g. Metamucil – OTC – laxative - absorb water & increase bulk in bowel - Stretch intestinal wall to stimulate peristalsis  
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With bulk-forming lax, you must mix   at least 1c. water (240 mL) or juice & swallow quickly or may cause obstruction. Follow with additional water  
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Emollient (stool softeners) E.g. docusate sodium (Colace)   Lower surface tension of feces, so more water & fat can penetrate - detergents that lower surface tension of feces, increase secretion of water by intestine.  
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Short term use to prevent straining after surgery, MI, pregnancy   emollient stool softneres - Also for chronic opioid use or prone to constipation  
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Enemas   instillation of a solution into the rectum and sigmoid colon.  
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The primary reason for an enema is to promote defecation by   stimulating peristalsis - volume of fluid instilled breaks up the fecal mass, stretches the rectal wall, and initiates the defecation reflex.  
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Cleansing Enemas   stim peristalsis through the infusion of lg vol of solution or local irritation of colon's mucosa.  
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Cleansing enemas include   tap water, normal saline, soapsuds solution, and low-volume hypertonic saline.  
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Tap Water enema   hypotonic & exerts lower osmotic press than fluid in interstitial spaces - stims defecation before lg amounts of water leave bowel - water tox danger if bod absorbs lg amounts of water.  
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Saline laxatives – Magnesium citrate, MOM, Fleet phosphosoda, Fleet enema   used a lot for bowel prep - Increases osmotic pressure in sml intest by inhibiting water absorption & increases water & electrolyte secretions from bowel wall.  
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Saline laxs do what?   Promotes peristalsis, lubricate feces.  
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Don’t use __ lax on renal pts. or those on fluid restriction   saline  
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Safest enema to use?   physiologically normal saline because it is isotonic to fluids in interstitial spaces surrounding bowel.  
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Saline enemas does not create the danger of   excess fluid absorption.  
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Hypertonic Solutions   exert osmotic pressure that pulls fluids out of interstitial spaces - colon fills w/fluid & distention promotes defecation - contraindicated in pt who are dehydrated &young infants.  
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Soapsuds enema   create effect of intestinal irritation to stimulate peristalsis - only pure castile soap is safe  
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The terms high and low enema refer to   the height from which, and hence the pressure with which, the fluid is delivered.  
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High enemas cleanse   the entire colon.  
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After high enema infused, ask the client to turn from the left lateral to the   dorsal recumbent, over to the right lateral position - ensures fluid reaches lrg intestine.  
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A low enema cleanses   only the rectum and sigmoid colon.  
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Carminative enemas provide relief from   gaseous distention - improve ability to pass flatus  
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Medicated enemas contain drugs   sodium polystyrene sulfonate (Kayexalate) used to treat clients with dangerously high serum potassium levels.  
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Another medicated enema is neomycin solution   an antibiotic used to reduce bacteria in the colon before bowel surgery  
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Stimulant Cathartics – e.g. bisacodyl (Dulcolax)   Irritate intestinal mucosa to increase motility - decrease absorption in small bowel & colon - May cause severe abdominal cramping - prep bowel for diagnostic procedures  
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If taken w/ emollients or mineral oil, increases risk of fat emboli or aspiration pneumonia in which lax?   Lubricants – Haley’s M-O  
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Lomotil (diphenoxylate)   opiate Rx. – habit forming – educate them and take only when necessary - ACTION: Decrease intestinal muscle tone to slow passage of feces  
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Opiates inhibit   peristaltic waves, but increase segmental contractions to increase water absorption  
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Loperamide   Immodium A-D – synthetic antidiarrheal – inhibits peristalsis, opiate without the effects  
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