Question

What are Individualized nursing interventions related to diverticulitis, including primary, secondary, and tertiary levels of prevention?

Answer 1

Diverticulitis is the condition of inflammation of diverticula,a small saccular herniation in the colonic wall.Etiology includes the thickenung of the outer wall of the intestine causes narrowing of the inner space.this narrowing causes stool to move more slowly.Hard stools,produced from a low fiber diet,and slower transit time through the intestine creates pressure on the intestinal wall,thus forming pockets called diverticula.These pockets are more often asymptomatic.stool passing slowly through the intestine deposits fecal material in the diverticula.over time bacterial overgrowth causes an inflammatory response and may form an abscess or infection in the diverticula.advanced diverticular disease can result in perforations of the intestine and peritonitis if infection is leaked through the perforations into the abdominal cavity.

NURSING CARE AND INTERVENTIONS

• Collection of data that include wheather patient having severe abdominal pain,abdominal bloating,nausea,vomiting,constipation,abdominal tenderness,fever or chills,evidence of diverticula on colonoscopy etc
• Monitor vital signs,also includes signs of infection and possibly early peritonitis.
• Provide bowel rest-maintain NPO status during initial phase of treatment to kill infection and help bowel rest.
• Assess abdominal pain.-detailed abdominal assessment will indicate if inflammation or infectiob may be developing.
• Monitor hydration status-maintain optimal hydration for improved intestinal motility
• Administer medications that may include antibiotic for infection,analgesic for pain,IV fluids for hydration and bowel motility and laxatives.
• Provide nutrion education- hydrate to avoid constipation,probiotics to help regulate the intestinal bacterial flora and avoid the food that trigger flare up.
• Elevate the head of the bed and position in the patient in semi Fowler's-to increase the oxygen level by allowing optimal lung expansion.
• Place the patient in cmplete bed rest during severe episodes of pain.

PRIMARY ,SECONDARY AND TERTIARY PREVENTION

• Under stand the uncontrollable risk factors and should be beware of it.that are age,genetics.
• Achieve or maintain a heakthy weight-obesity and lack of physical activity can increase risk.
• Stop smoking-smoking increase the risk.
• Ask your doctor about medications that increase risk of diverticulitis.
• Familarise yourself with most updated indormation so that easy identifation of the case and possible treatment.
• Get enough fiber.things that can be added to your diet are fruit skin and pulp,vegetable skin and pulp,whole grains ,nuts and seeds,beans and legumes,flber supplements.
• Know when to seek medical attention.
• Correctly follow the treatment guidelines so that get relieved from symptoms.
• Early diagnosis and treatment one of the important thing so that complications can be prevented.
• Early diagnosis and treatment comes under secondary prevention.
• Prevention of complications are the tertary prevention. Seeing a gastro enterologist immediately after noticing symptoms follow treatment guidelines and regular check ups reduce the complications and help to prevent them.