Unit 44

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Unit 44

Gastrointestinal System


Objectives

• Spell and define terms.• Review the location and functions of the

organs of the gastrointestinal system.• List specific diagnostic tests associated

with disorders of the gastrointestinal system.


Objectives

• Describe some common disorders of the gastrointestinal system.

• Describe nursing assistant actions related to the care of patients with disorders of the gastrointestinal system.

• Identify different types of enemas and state their purpose.


Introduction

• The digestive tract extends from the mouth to the anus.

• It receives the help of the teeth, tongue, salivary glands, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas in breaking down food into simpler substances.


Introduction

• These substances are used by the body cells to carry on their work of supplying nutrition and eliminating wastes.


Structure and Function

• Gastrointestinal system is also called the GI or digestive tract.

• It extends from the mouth to the anus– Lined with mucous membrane


Structure and Function

• The organs along the length of this system– Change food into simple forms that can

pass through the walls of the small intestine and into the circulatory system.

• The circulatory system then carries the nutrients to the body cells.


The Mouth

• The teeth and tongue are part of the digestive system

• For many years:– Experts believed humans had four types of

taste buds on the tongue: • Sweet, salt, bitter, and sour

– Taste buds are being studied


The Mouth

• In 2000– A fifth taste bud called umami was

identified – It is a savory, meaty, or protein taste, such

as found in steak and mushrooms


Common Problems Related to the Lower Bowel

• The frequency of bowel elimination varies among individuals.

• Some people have more than one bowel movement (BM) a day– Others have a BM every two or three days



• A BM is usually soft and formed.• If it passes through the colon too quickly,

it is loose and watery. • Multiple watery stools are called

diarrhea.



• If a BM passes through the colon too slowly:– Fecal material becomes hard, dry, or sticky

and pasty in consistency– This is called constipation



• Fecal material is normally brown– Color can be affected by certain foods,

medications, and diseases.



• Abdominal distention– Occurs when the abdomen enlarges and

appears bloated • This usually occurs as a result of flatus

(gas)– There are other causes



• Fecal impaction– Most serious form of constipation– It is caused by retention of stool in the

rectum, where water is absorbed



• Over time, the stool becomes hard and dry, and the patient cannot pass it.

• The dried waste irritates the bowel.• Mucus dissolves the hard, outer part of

the mass.



• Rectum becomes so full that the fluid escapes around the impaction and is eliminated from the rectum as diarrhea.

• Refer to Figure 44-4




Nursing Assistant Responsibilities• Monitor bowel elimination and report

irregularities.• Record bowel movements on the flow

sheet.


Nursing Assistant Responsibilities• If a patient is independent with bowel

elimination:– Ask if he or she has had a bowel

movement each day


Nursing Assistant Responsibilities• Report to the the nurse:

– Frequent stools, absence of stools, pain, cramping, excessive flatulence, abnormal color or consistency of stool, extremely small amounts of stool, hard, dry stool, or enlargement of the abdomen.


Nursing Assistant Responsibilities

• Save abnormal stools for the nurse to assess

• Specific abnormalities in stools to report are presence of:– Blood, pus, mucus, black or other unusual

color, undigested food (except corn and raisins), or presence of parasites in the stool.


Nursing Assistant Responsibilities

• Inform the nurse if a patient has not had a BM in three days.


Enemas

• A cleansing enema– Introduces fluid into the rectum to remove

feces and flatus from the colon and rectum.• Avoid giving an enema within an hour

after meals– This will increase peristalsis making it

difficult for the patient to retain the solution.


Enemas

• Avoid administering an enema to a patient in a sitting position

• Solution will not flow into the colon – It will cause the rectum to enlarge, causing

rapid expulsion of the fluid.

Unit 44

Documents

delmar learning

common problems

digestive system

circulatory system

common disorders

mucous membrane copyright

lower bowela bm

lower bowelif