bowel management for spinal cord injured persons presented by: karen flaherty, rn, adn & michael...
TRANSCRIPT
BOWEL MANAGEMENT BOWEL MANAGEMENT FORFOR
SPINAL CORD INJURED SPINAL CORD INJURED PERSONSPERSONS
Presented by:Presented by:
Karen Flaherty, RN, ADNKaren Flaherty, RN, ADN& Michael Caplinger, RN, BSN & Michael Caplinger, RN, BSN
VABHSVABHSSCI ServiceSCI Service
West Roxbury CampusWest Roxbury Campus
OBJECTIVESOBJECTIVES
Understand normal bowel functionUnderstand normal bowel function Understand the effect of SCI on Understand the effect of SCI on
bowel functionbowel function Identify the appropriate bowel Identify the appropriate bowel
programprogram Identify complications associated Identify complications associated
with neurogenic bowelwith neurogenic bowel Identify meds associated with bowel Identify meds associated with bowel
carecare
GLOSSARYGLOSSARY
BOWEL CAREBOWEL CARE- procedure for starting/completing a - procedure for starting/completing a bowel movementbowel movement
BOWEL PROGRAM-BOWEL PROGRAM- total individualized management total individualized management plan to regularly empty the colon of stool, including diet, plan to regularly empty the colon of stool, including diet, exercise, medication, and regularly-scheduled bowel careexercise, medication, and regularly-scheduled bowel care
BTBT-bowel training-bowel training DDDD- digital dilatation- digital dilatation DIGITAL STIMULATION-DIGITAL STIMULATION- gentle movement of a gloved gentle movement of a gloved
finger in a circular pattern in the rectum to relax the finger in a circular pattern in the rectum to relax the sphincter muscle so that stool may pass during bowel sphincter muscle so that stool may pass during bowel carecare
IMPACTION-IMPACTION-stool lodged in and clogging the bowelstool lodged in and clogging the bowel INCONTINENCE-INCONTINENCE- involuntary passage of stool or urine, involuntary passage of stool or urine,
also called an accidentalso called an accident
NEUROGENIC BOWELNEUROGENIC BOWELWhat is It?What is It?
A medical condition caused by an injury A medical condition caused by an injury to the spinal cord that damages the to the spinal cord that damages the nervous system’s control of the colon nervous system’s control of the colon and interferes with the body’s natural and interferes with the body’s natural process for storing and eliminating solid process for storing and eliminating solid wastes. There are two patterns of wastes. There are two patterns of neurogenic bowel: neurogenic bowel: reflexicreflexic or or spasticspastic and and areflexic or flaccidareflexic or flaccid
REFLEXIC BOWELREFLEXIC BOWEL
Cervical or thoracic Level of Injury Cervical or thoracic Level of Injury (LOI)(LOI)
Injury interrupts message from colon Injury interrupts message from colon to brainto brain
Below LOI cord controls bowel Below LOI cord controls bowel reflexes (no urge to defecate)reflexes (no urge to defecate)
Stool in rectal vault triggers reflex BMStool in rectal vault triggers reflex BM Between BM’s sphincter tightBetween BM’s sphincter tight
AREFLEXIC BOWELAREFLEXIC BOWEL
SCI at lower levelSCI at lower level Reduced peristalsis Reduced peristalsis Decreased anal sphincter toneDecreased anal sphincter tone
NEUROGENIC BOWELNEUROGENIC BOWELWhat Happens?What Happens?
Unable to feel urge to defecateUnable to feel urge to defecate Unable to evacuate bowel Unable to evacuate bowel
voluntarilyvoluntarily Unable to evacuate bowel Unable to evacuate bowel
completelycompletely Ineffective peristalsisIneffective peristalsis
NEUROGENIC BOWELNEUROGENIC BOWELWhat Next?What Next?
ConstipationConstipation DiarrheaDiarrhea HemorrhoidsHemorrhoids Distention/FlatusDistention/Flatus
NEUROGENIC BOWELNEUROGENIC BOWELWhat Can Be Done?What Can Be Done?
Pt/caregiver assume responsibility Pt/caregiver assume responsibility for bowel routinefor bowel routine
Individualized bowel care program Individualized bowel care program established during rehabestablished during rehab
LOI, scheduling needs, position, LOI, scheduling needs, position, comfort, discharge goal comfort, discharge goal
Goal: Effective, efficient evacuationGoal: Effective, efficient evacuation
Bowel ProgramBowel Program in Spinal Cord Injury in Spinal Cord Injury
With loss of sensation & motor With loss of sensation & motor control normal control over bowel control normal control over bowel activity is no longer possible activity is no longer possible
Spinal cord injured person must Spinal cord injured person must establish a bowel programestablish a bowel program
Type of neuron injury should be Type of neuron injury should be taken into account.taken into account.
Benefits of a Bowel Benefits of a Bowel ProgramProgram
Prevents accidents/incontinencePrevents accidents/incontinence Prevents diarrhea, constipation & Prevents diarrhea, constipation &
impactionimpaction Increases independenceIncreases independence Decreases depression & feelings of Decreases depression & feelings of
helplessnesshelplessness Reduces workload of personal care Reduces workload of personal care
attendantattendant
REFLEXIC BOWEL REFLEXIC BOWEL PROGRAMPROGRAM
Laxative meds Laxative meds Digital stimulationDigital stimulation Gastrocolic reflexGastrocolic reflex Q every other dayQ every other day
or Three Times or Three Times per Weekper Week
DisimpactDisimpact Insert suppositoryInsert suppository Digital stimulationDigital stimulation Evacuation Evacuation
completecomplete CleanupCleanup
AREFLEXIC BOWEL AREFLEXIC BOWEL PROGRAMPROGRAM
Use gravityUse gravity Digital stimulationDigital stimulation Daily or moreDaily or more Strain, abd muscle contraction, bend, Strain, abd muscle contraction, bend,
liftlift Complete when rectal vault emptyComplete when rectal vault empty CleanupCleanup
Factors that Affect the Factors that Affect the Success of a Bowel Success of a Bowel
ProgramProgram
Previous bowel Previous bowel historyhistory
TimingTiming Privacy & comfortPrivacy & comfort Emotional stressEmotional stress Fluids/Food Fluids/Food Activity level Activity level
MedicationsMedications IllnessIllness PositioningPositioning External massageExternal massage Valsalva Valsalva Assistive/Adaptive Assistive/Adaptive
devicesdevices
Common MedicationsCommon Medications
Laxatives Laxatives stimulant, stimulant, osmotic, bulkosmotic, bulk
Stool SoftenersStool Softeners SuppositoriesSuppositories
BOWEL MEDICATIONSBOWEL MEDICATIONS
Stimulant LaxativesStimulant Laxatives-increase -increase peristalsis, increase transit time, keep peristalsis, increase transit time, keep stool soft stool soft
Osmotic LaxativesOsmotic Laxatives-pull water into -pull water into colon to increase stool bulkcolon to increase stool bulk
Bulk LaxativesBulk Laxatives-add bulk to stool-add bulk to stool Stool SoftenersStool Softeners-retain fluid in stool, -retain fluid in stool,
keep softkeep soft SuppositoriesSuppositories-increase peristalsis-increase peristalsis
Common Bowel Problems Common Bowel Problems and Solutionsand Solutions
CONSTIPATION:CONSTIPATION: -less than normal amts of stool-less than normal amts of stool -hard, small or very large bulky-hard, small or very large bulky -poor results for 2 bowel routines-poor results for 2 bowel routines -poor appetite, nausea, abd distention-poor appetite, nausea, abd distention CauseCause:poor fluid/fiber/food intake, not :poor fluid/fiber/food intake, not
following program, decreased activity, following program, decreased activity, medications medications
CONSTIPATION CONSTIPATION SOLUTIONSSOLUTIONS
Dig stim/disimpact, then bowel Dig stim/disimpact, then bowel care programcare program
No stool, DD, oral laxative then No stool, DD, oral laxative then bowel program 6-12 hours laterbowel program 6-12 hours later
Increase frequency of bowel care Increase frequency of bowel care until regulateduntil regulated
Increase fluids and activityIncrease fluids and activity Maintain regular bowel programMaintain regular bowel program
Common Bowel ProblemsCommon Bowel Problemsand Solutionsand Solutions
DIARRHEA:DIARRHEA: loose, watery stools, usually 3 or loose, watery stools, usually 3 or
more times per daymore times per day urine may become concentrated, urine may become concentrated,
mucous membranes drymucous membranes dry Cause:Cause: dietary, caffeine, overuse dietary, caffeine, overuse
of laxatives, stress, antibioticsof laxatives, stress, antibiotics
DIARRHEA SOLUTIONSDIARRHEA SOLUTIONS
Avoid irritant foodsAvoid irritant foods Use BRAT foodsUse BRAT foods Hydrate to replete lossesHydrate to replete losses Consider yogurt/lactobacillus while Consider yogurt/lactobacillus while
on antibioticson antibiotics R/O constipation/impactionR/O constipation/impaction
Common Bowel Problems Common Bowel Problems and Solutionsand Solutions
HEMORRHOIDS:HEMORRHOIDS: bulging around anusbulging around anus may cause bleeding with defecationmay cause bleeding with defecation may trigger AD with LOI T6 or above may trigger AD with LOI T6 or above Cause:Cause: hard stools, straining, hard stools, straining,
vigorous digital stimulationvigorous digital stimulation
HEMORRHOID SOLUTIONSHEMORRHOID SOLUTIONS
Avoid constipationAvoid constipation Hemorrhoid creams/suppositoriesHemorrhoid creams/suppositories Minimize DDMinimize DD Increase stool softenerIncrease stool softener Increase use of lubeIncrease use of lube Limit strain/time over toiletLimit strain/time over toilet
Common Bowel Problems Common Bowel Problems and Solutionsand Solutions
ABDOMINAL ABDOMINAL DISTENTION/FLATUSDISTENTION/FLATUS
swallowing air while swallowing air while eating/drinkingeating/drinking
causative food/fluidscausative food/fluids delayed gastric emptyingdelayed gastric emptying
DISTENTION/FLATUS DISTENTION/FLATUS SOLUTIONSSOLUTIONS
Eat food slowlyEat food slowly Avoid gulpingAvoid gulping Avoid food/fluid known to cause Avoid food/fluid known to cause
increased GI gasincreased GI gas Maintain regular bowel care Maintain regular bowel care
regimeregime Avoid constipationAvoid constipation
GAS CAUSING GAS CAUSING FOOD/FLUIDSFOOD/FLUIDS
BeansBeans BroccoliBroccoli CornCorn CucumbersCucumbers PeppersPeppers OnionsOnions TurnipsTurnips PeasPeas
Carbonated Carbonated beveragesbeverages
Caffeinated Caffeinated beveragesbeverages
ApplesApples AvocadosAvocados CantaloupeCantaloupe MelonsMelons
ColostomyColostomy Colostomy: a surgical construction of an
artificial anus between the colon and the surface of the abdomen.
Indications: cancer, diverticulitis, imperforate anus, trauma, and a treatment for bowel dysfunction for spinal cord injured persons.
KEY POINTS KEY POINTS
Effective/efficient bowel program Effective/efficient bowel program promotes independence and promotes independence and improves quality of lifeimproves quality of life
Prevents incontinencePrevents incontinence Provides control over body functionProvides control over body function Prevents healthcare problemsPrevents healthcare problems