The nurse is caring for a client who has been diagnosed with a bowel obstruction. Which assessment finding leads the nurse to conclude that the obstruction is in the small bowel?
a. Potassium of 2.8 mEq/L, with a sodium value of 121 mEq/L
b. Losing 15 pounds over the last month without dieting
c. Reports of crampy abdominal pain across the lower quadrants
d. High-pitched, hyperactive bowel sounds in all quadrants
A
Small bowel obstructions often lead to severe fluid and electrolyte imbalances. The client is hy-pokalemic (normal range, 3.5 to 5.0 mEq/L) and hyponatremic (normal range, 136 to 145 mEq/L). Dramatic weight loss without dieting followed by bowel obstruction leads to the probable development of colon cancer. High-pitched, hyperactive bowel sounds may be noted with large and small bowel obstructions. Crampy abdominal pain across the lower quadrants is associated with large bowel obstruction.
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