Question

Concept: Fecal Elimination:

Patient Jared, a 28-years-old male came into the emergency room due to diarrhea and abdominal pain. As the nurse interviewed him, these are the information he revealed. “I have been vomiting since last night a few hours after dinner. I thought it would just pass and I would be able to sleep. But It kept me going to the toilet several times,” he said. The nurse further asked him, ‘What did you have for dinner, and did you take anything to relieve your discomfort?”. He responded, “My wife made me a late-night dinner after going home from overtime
work in my afternoon shift. It was Spicy Fish Biryani and chili soup with some salad and a warm tea to be relieved from abdominal upset, but it didn’t go away until now, it’s been 24 hours ago”.

1. What factors that are seen in this scenario that affects fecal elimination, explain?
2. Identify and discuss fecal elimination problems that can be involved in this scenario.
3. Describe abdominal assessment methods that can be highlighted in this scenario and explain its importance.
4. Describe measures that can be utilized as an intervention to maintain a normal fecal elimination pattern.

Answer 1

1.The factors which affects the fecal elimination in this scenario are

• Late night dinner with a heavy meal can lead to digestive problem resulting in diarrhoea
• Poor dietary habits
• Tea with dinner should be generally avoided
• Stress due to overtime work.

2.The fecal elimination problem involved in this scenario is diarrhoea.The mixing up of foods like vegetables with non vegetarian has caused food intolerance.Along with this spicy fish ,chilli soup can irritate the gastric lining and cause abdominal pain ,increased peristalsis.Salads with tea is another poor combination of food to cause intolerance.

3.The abdominal assessment needed in this case are

• Inspection for any abdominal distension
• Palpation to rule out any tenderness
• Percussion to assess for any fluid collection
• Auscultation to know about the bowel sounds and persistalsis

4.Some of the measures to maintain a normal fecal elimination are

• Encourage to have early dinner
• Include fibers in diet
• Avoid spicy meals in night time
• Follow a schedule and routine daily
• Take adequate liquid in diet