Question

Ms. K, age 79yrs old, has developed a partial obstruction in her colon. She was having difficulty with bowel movements and was nauseated, anorexic, and dehydrated. Surgery revealed diverticulitis with considerable fibrosis causing the obstruction. A colostomy was required.

1) Why would she have difficulty passing feces?

2) Why do you think she would be nauseated and anorexic?

3) Why would she be dehydrated?

4) How would fibrosis affect the functioning of the colon?

5) Why would a colostomy be necessary?

Answer 1

1)Fibrosis of colon means excessive accumulation of scar tissue in the intestinal wall. This will make obstruction in the intestinal wall and cause constipation. Diverticulitis means infection or inflammation of the diverticulam. Overtime infection leads to constipation.Here the patient have difficulty in passing faeces mainly because of the obstruction caused by fibrosis.

2)The patient develops symptoms like nausea and anorexia because of constipation.

3)dehydration caused by the lower absorption of water from the intestine and it leads to dehydration. This will occur in diverticulitis condition.

4)most of them people with fibrosis have sticky mucous and it block ducts in the pancreas and prevents enzymes from reaching the small intestine to digest food. Undigested food in the intestine cause pain, cramping, gas and either greasy loose floating stools or constipation and blockages.

5) colostomy is formed during surgery to divert a section of the large intestine(colon)through an opening in the abdomen .The opening is called stoma .A diverticulitis case colostomy diverts digestive waste away from the affected areas of colon to give a chance to heal .