Bowel Elimination

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Bowel Elimination
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Structures and Functions of the Gastrointestinal
Tract

• Structures
• Mouth and Esophagus
• Stomach
• Small and Large Intestines
• Functions
• Digest
• Absorption
• Defecation

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Characteristics of Normal Feces

• Color brown
• Odor affected by digested food.
• Consistency soft, semisolid
• Amount varies with diet (100 -400g /day)
• Constituents 75 water, 25 solid material

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Factors Affecting Bowel Elimination

• Nutrition and Fluid Intake
• Activity and Exercise
• Body Position
• Lifestyle
• Pregnancy
• Medications
• Diagnostic Procedures
• Surgery

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Manifestations of Altered Bowel Function

• Constipation fewer than three bowel movement per
  week.
• Fecal Impaction is the collection of hardened,
  puttylike feces in the folds of the rectum.
• Diarrhea passage of liquid feces and increased
  frequency of defecation.
• Fecal Incontinence loss of voluntary ability to
  control fecal discharges.
• Flatulence air or gas in GI tract.

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Assessment

• Subjective Data
• Normal Pattern Identification
• Risk Identification
• Dysfunction Identification
• Objective Data
• Inspection
• Auscultation
• Palpation
• Percussion

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Diagnostic Tests and Procedures

• Stool Specimens
• Radiologic Procedures
• Barium enema
• Endoscopic Examinations
• Sigmoidoscopy
• Colonoscopy
• Esophagogastroduodenoscopy

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Nursing Interventions for Health Promotion

• Client Teaching
• Diet
• Fluids
• Activity and Exercise
• Bowel Habits
• Colorectal Screening

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Nursing Interventions for Altered Bowel Function

• Medication Use
• Enemas
• Rectal Tubes
• Nasogastric Intubation
• Fecal Impaction Removal
• Bowel Training
• Fecal Diversions (ostomies)

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The location of bowel ostomies
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Ostomies