Question

Bowel Obstruction

An 80-year-old man comes to the ED reporting acute upper to mid-abdominal, sporadic pain and cramping. Upon assessment, the nurse observes abdominal distention and high-pitched bowel sounds. The physician has ordered flat plate and upright abdominal x-rays that show distention of loops of intestine, with fluid and gas in the small intestine in conjunction with absence of gas in the colon. The physician has diagnosed a bowel obstruction.

Based on the findings, identify which type of bowel obstruction this patient most likely has.

What other signs and symptoms would the nurse observe for in this patient?

Identify the priority nursing interventions needed for this patient.

Identify the expected medical management for this patient.

Explain the surgical management that may be needed for patients with bowel obstructions.

It is found that the patient has a small fecal impaction.

Identify the preventive care that the nurse would include in patient/family teaching for this patient.

Answer 1