NURS 2004 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Dexamethasone, Headache, Area Postrema
20 Mar 2017
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Absorption of electrolytes- not absorption of nutrients (small intestine) Delay in transport through the intestine (dehydrated hard stool) Absorbs water so stool can be digested by colonic bacteria- contributes to mass. Some absorbed to blood stream from bowel. Difficult, incomplete, or infrequent evacuation of dry, hardened feces from the bowels. Excessive alcoholic beverages, white flour, dairy products, chocolate. Aging slows fecal transit time (elderly people generally exercise less) If straining; can increase myocardial demand (valsalva maneuver- pass out) For prevention of impaction with bedridden/ paralyzed patients. Correction of constipation associated with pregnancy or drugs. Loss of abdominal and perineal muscle tone in the elderly. Treatment/ procedure/ preparation: obtaining a stool sample, cleansing of the bowel pre-op, emptying the bowel prior to xrays. Abdominal pain, cramps, nausea: symptoms of appendicitis, diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis. Acute surgical abdomen (post-op pain, inflammation, no bs) Osmotic laxatives: milk of magnesia (mom) Miscellaneous laxatives: mineral oil, lactulose, glycerin suppository.
