Bowel Elimination Exam Questions With
Answers
factors that affect bowel elimination
age, diet, fluid intake, medications, physical activity, psychological activity, personal habits, position,
pain, pregnancy, surgery & anesthesia, medications, diagnostic tests
Age
BE; you must be of a certain age or physical maturity to be able to control your bowels and humans
also can lose control of their bowels after a certain age
Diet
BE; there many different ways that diet can affect BMs. ex: high fiber diets & fruits promote
regularity, while cheeses cause constipation
fluid intake
BE; the more fluid you take in the less likely you are to become constipated, the less fluid you take in
the more likely you are to become constipated.
physical activity
BE; higher activity rate lessens the chances of constipation
psychological factors
BE; can be almost anything; usually the source of ulcerative colitis or crohn's disease; usually
depression causes peristalsis to decrease
personal habits
BE; a person not wanting to go for an extended period of time can cause harm to their body and can
make it harder to go later; they may not want to use those facilities
position
BE; normal positioning for BM is sitting or squatting
pain
BE; person may be hesitant about going if they think it will cause them pain; usually do to hemrroids,
rectal surgery, or ABD surgery
pregnancy
BE; the way the baby is lying on the mothers GI tract affects peristalsis by slowing it; this will affect if
and how often the mother might go
surgery & anesthesia
BE; affects defication by the slowing of peristalsis or complete stoppage of it
medications
, BE; different meds affect BMs differently; some meds increase the process others may inhibit it or
stop it completely;
diagnostic tests
BE; these affet the patient because they usually require them be NPO prior to it which in turn will limit
their food intake which limits their BMs or stops them completely
laxatives & catharitics
medications that promote peristalsis and BMs; these can become harmful if they are abused
Alterations in bowel elimination
constipation, incontinence, diarrhea, impaction, hemrroids, flatulance
constipation
decreased peristalsis; decreased frequency of BMs and/or prolonged or difficult passage of hard
stools; this is something that is highly individualized (BM frequency ranges from 3x p/d - 3x p/w)
causes of constipation
decreased amount of food intake, decreased fluid intake, decreased muscle tone, insufficient
exercise, ignoring the urge to go, laxative abuse
implementation for constipation
respond to urge, help if needed, provide time & privacy, ensure adequate fluid intakes, provide
appropriate positioning, increase overall activity, get adequate fiber.
laxatives, suppositories, & enemas
these things should only be used as a last resort
impaction
stool that cannot be passed, unrelieved constipation; usually seen in bed bound patients and those
who havent had BM in several days
signs of impaction
oozing diarrhea around the mass, anorexia, abdominal distention, cramping, & rectal pain;
implementaion for impaction
physical removal of mass by hand (must have MD order) done with enema and lube; monitor vitals
during this
diarrhea
increased perstalsis; increase in number of stools and passgage of liquid & unformed feces; can lead
to F/E imbalance
causes of diarrhea
improper diet, ABX, enteral nutrition, food/allergy intolerances, C. difficile, surgery, diagnostic tests
Answers
factors that affect bowel elimination
age, diet, fluid intake, medications, physical activity, psychological activity, personal habits, position,
pain, pregnancy, surgery & anesthesia, medications, diagnostic tests
Age
BE; you must be of a certain age or physical maturity to be able to control your bowels and humans
also can lose control of their bowels after a certain age
Diet
BE; there many different ways that diet can affect BMs. ex: high fiber diets & fruits promote
regularity, while cheeses cause constipation
fluid intake
BE; the more fluid you take in the less likely you are to become constipated, the less fluid you take in
the more likely you are to become constipated.
physical activity
BE; higher activity rate lessens the chances of constipation
psychological factors
BE; can be almost anything; usually the source of ulcerative colitis or crohn's disease; usually
depression causes peristalsis to decrease
personal habits
BE; a person not wanting to go for an extended period of time can cause harm to their body and can
make it harder to go later; they may not want to use those facilities
position
BE; normal positioning for BM is sitting or squatting
pain
BE; person may be hesitant about going if they think it will cause them pain; usually do to hemrroids,
rectal surgery, or ABD surgery
pregnancy
BE; the way the baby is lying on the mothers GI tract affects peristalsis by slowing it; this will affect if
and how often the mother might go
surgery & anesthesia
BE; affects defication by the slowing of peristalsis or complete stoppage of it
medications
, BE; different meds affect BMs differently; some meds increase the process others may inhibit it or
stop it completely;
diagnostic tests
BE; these affet the patient because they usually require them be NPO prior to it which in turn will limit
their food intake which limits their BMs or stops them completely
laxatives & catharitics
medications that promote peristalsis and BMs; these can become harmful if they are abused
Alterations in bowel elimination
constipation, incontinence, diarrhea, impaction, hemrroids, flatulance
constipation
decreased peristalsis; decreased frequency of BMs and/or prolonged or difficult passage of hard
stools; this is something that is highly individualized (BM frequency ranges from 3x p/d - 3x p/w)
causes of constipation
decreased amount of food intake, decreased fluid intake, decreased muscle tone, insufficient
exercise, ignoring the urge to go, laxative abuse
implementation for constipation
respond to urge, help if needed, provide time & privacy, ensure adequate fluid intakes, provide
appropriate positioning, increase overall activity, get adequate fiber.
laxatives, suppositories, & enemas
these things should only be used as a last resort
impaction
stool that cannot be passed, unrelieved constipation; usually seen in bed bound patients and those
who havent had BM in several days
signs of impaction
oozing diarrhea around the mass, anorexia, abdominal distention, cramping, & rectal pain;
implementaion for impaction
physical removal of mass by hand (must have MD order) done with enema and lube; monitor vitals
during this
diarrhea
increased perstalsis; increase in number of stools and passgage of liquid & unformed feces; can lead
to F/E imbalance
causes of diarrhea
improper diet, ABX, enteral nutrition, food/allergy intolerances, C. difficile, surgery, diagnostic tests
