NUR 326 Exam 8
- GI tract
Breakdown/absorption nutrients Eliminate waste
- Upper GI tract
Mouth, salivary glands, esophagus, stomach
- Lower GI tract
Small intestine, large intestine (colon), rectum
- Populations at Greatest Risk for Irregular Elimination
Children, pregnant women, older adults
- Fecal Incontinence
Recurrent involuntary passage of stool from rectum for at least 3 months
- Treatment of fecal incontinence
depends on underlying cause, dietary fiber supplements, changing diet, kegel exercises
- Bowel Retention/Constipation
Fewer than 3 bowel movements weekly, or movements that are hard, dry, small, or difficult to pass
- Is bowel retention/constipation a disease?
No, it is a symptom 1 / 2
- factors contributing to bowel retention/constipation
decreased peristalsis
- Small vs large bowel obstruction
Small
where most obstructions occur Large
cancer/neoplasm, impaction, typically requires surgery
- mechanical bowel obstruction
something is in the way preventing normal flow such as tumors, scars, hernias, intussusception, abscesses, etc
- Functional bowel obstruction
slowed or absent peristalsis, no structural prob- lem examples
Parkinsons, muscular dystrophy, etc
- simple bowel obstruction
no bowel ischemia (bowel still is being perfused)
- strangulated bowel obstruction
SURGICAL EMERGENCY; perfusion com- promised and necrosis inevitable
- 1st manifestation of SBO
Crampy, colicky abdominal pain
- / 2