Question

Miss Pho is a 25-year-old female who was admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of dehydration secondary to a Crohn’s flare-up. (Crohn’s Disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestines). Her skin is pale, her mucous membranes are dry, and her skin turgor is poor. Miss Pho reports increasing bouts of diarrhea along abdominal pain and weakness.

Because Miss Pho is unable to tolerate PO fluids, IV fluids are ordered. The surgeon has come to discuss bowel diversion options with Miss Pho, as this is her seventh Crohn’s flare-up in the past year.

What are the two main types of bowel diversions?

Compare and contrast how each type of bowel diversion can affect a patient’s nutritional status and bowel elimination.

Answer 1

1. Bowel diversion:

Ileostomy

Colostomy

Compare and contrast:

Colostomy	Ileostomy
1. Surgical operation performed at the end of the colon.	1. Surgical operation performed at the end of the ileum.
2. It may be temporary or permanent.	2. It also may be temporary or permanent.
3. Hard stool.	3. Watery stool.
4. Stool frequency is low, chance of fluid loss and dehydration is less.	4. Stool frequency is more, fluid loss is high.
5. vitamin k absorbed by colon, colostomy cause vitamin k deficiency.	6. Deficiency of vitamin b complex are noted.
7. Nutritional absorption affected by colostomy.	7. Ileostomy also interfere with nutritional and water loss.