The nurse is checking the residual volume on a patient who is getting intermittent tube feedings via his NG tube.Which of the following observations may indicate that the patient has started to bleed again?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Red or brown coloring (coffee grounds appearance)of fluid aspirated from a feeding tube indicates new blood or old blood,respectively,in the gastrointestinal tract.If the color is not related to medications recently administered,notify the physician.
Abdominal distention usually indicates that the tube feeding is not progressing through the GI tract.This could be a sign of paralytic ileus.Stop the tube feeding and notify the physician.If the patient develops severe respiratory distress (e.g.,dyspnea,decreased oxygen saturation,increased pulse rate),it may be a result of aspiration or tube displacement into the lung.Stop any enteral feedings.Notify physician.Obtain chest radiograph as ordered.

The Nurse Is Checking the Residual Volume on a Patient