CONSTIPATION AND FECAL INCONTINENCE

Constipation is a word That Spanish students use to confuse with another that has nothing to do with our language.

The true meaning of constipation: stool evacuation excessively dry, sparse <50gramos/day or infrequent <twice / week.

Represents one of the most common geriatric syndromes from 60 years old. More common in women.

There are many causes that cause constipation: Mechanical, functional, pharmacological, metabolic and endocrine, neurological.

As a main and common complication is the fecal constipation, it can also develop an anal fissure, circulatory disorders, fecal incontinence, urinary retention.

Dietary treatment along with exercise should be the first therapeutic step. I observed that sometimes patients ask for medication such as laxatives, this occurs in many diseases, not only in this. It is more comfortable for them to take a pill, but they have to begin with the foundation of any treatment...

As nurses we should influence the changes in lifestyle. Promote a fiber intake and physical exercise to promote intestinal transit.

Ostomy: The terms ostomy and stoma are general descriptive terms that are often used interchangeably though they have different meanings. An ostomy refers to the surgically created opening in the body for the discharge of body wastes. A stoma is the actual end of the ureter or small or large bowel that can be seen protruding through the abdominal wall. The most common specific types of ostomies are described below.

Both the patient, family and / or caregiver have a detectable level of anxiety, due to the lack of knowledge in the care they should lend itself or having the patient at his residence...

This occurs daily in a plant / surgical unit such as general surgery and urology. It is at the time of discharge when quickly, almost excessive many issues arise that are not always cleared when they are leaving the hospital....

In this respect the nurse has an important educational function, both the patient and family and / or caregiver, assist in the rehabilitation of the patient are as beneficial in itself help you learn about their evolution process improvement or detection of problems in the case of no improvement or complications.

To provide this information the nurse should value the patient or family knowledge as well as their cultural learning etc.

Some nursing activities to facilitate the patient´s removal: 

Accompany the service.

Administration of enemas.

Enema colostomy.

Intestinal stoma care.

Incontinence care.

Provide urinal bottle.

Facilitate wedge.

Controlling diuresis.

Female catheterization.

Probing evacuator male.

Probing female evacuator.

Probing rectal

Removing fecaloma.

Control of bowel and types.

REFERENCES:

http://www.ostomy.org/ostomy_info/whatis.shtml

http://www.aniorte-nic.net/trabaj_cuidad_pacient_ostomiz.htm

http://enfermeriaparaelcambio.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/manual_parte1.pdf