To promote bowel evacuation in a patient with irregular bowel elimination,what should the nurse teach the patient about how to initiate the gastrocolic and duodenocolic reflexes,to facilitate bowel elimination when the patient attempts defecation?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The gastrocolic reflex is the reflex that occurs when the stomach is stretched by food, causing the colon to contract and move feces along. Therefore, trying to defecate after the first daily meal will help initiate this reflex, making bowel elimination easier. The duodenocolic reflex is initiated by the presence of food in the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine). However, the reflex is not as strong as the gastrocolic reflex, so it is not as critical to bowel elimination. Trying to defecate after physical exercise or on arising in the morning may not necessarily initiate these reflexes and trying to defecate on seeing and smelling food may lead to an incomplete bowel movement.

To Promote Bowel Evacuation in a Patient with Irregular Bowel