Nurses Helping Nurses
allnurses Network: Central | Jobs | Books | Newsletter
allnurses: A Nursing Community for Nurses
Home General News Blogs Articles Students Region Specialty Degrees F.A.Q.
Gastroenterology Nursing /

Isn't a colostomy an "over kill"?



Did You Know?
allnurses is the largest community for nurses on the web. We now have over 388,211 members! Join today to network with other nurses, laugh, share, and much more.

Thread Closed

Available for reading only.
 

Feb 20, 2008 01:37 PM

Isn't a colostomy an "over kill"?

by DJ-Adia

Everyone has been so helpful in guiding me to make informed decisions re: my dad's medical care (the result of a MVA involving an Armoured Security Truck that ran a stop sign & broad-sided my dad's car). Currently, we are being forced to make a decision that, in my opinion, doesn't appear to be in the my dad's best interest.
3 weeks ago my dad had a G-tube placed. 2 weeks ago they began using the tube for feedings. Whenever he was tube fed, within 2 hours of starting it out @ 10 ml/hr, his abdomen would become firmly distended & he'd be respiratory distress r/t the pressure that pushed up on his diaphram requiring mechanical ventilation. A colonoscopy was performed with decompression x 2 which relieved the distention .....that was until they resumed feedings again. He's having soft formed bowel movements on a daily basis, which lends me to believe there isn't an obstruction. They inserted a rectal tube to assist w/ decompression. CT shows large amounts of gas in the lg. intestines & stomach. The the dialated portion of the lg instestines measures 7 cm. which is said to not be that abnormal.
2 days ago, they simply andministered 2 water flushes of 60 ml/each and the distention restarted. A surgeon consulted yesterday for placement of a cecostomy tube but given the chances of occlusion & leakage - he's reluctant to do it. He's highly recommending placement of a colostomy. He claims it's the "ideal" solution. Doesn't anyone think that a colostomy is a rather invasive approach for someone who doesn't have a bowel obstruction? The surgeon diagnosed it as "Ogilvie Syndrome". Is there a chance that the G-tube might have migrated and thus causing a gastric outlet obstruction? If a colostomy is indeed the only treatment available - fine! but I have a hard time believing that. Any recommendations or ideas?


Share

Search Tags
None
Top

 
Advertisement
Sponsored Links
 
Closed Thread
1 Comment
No. 1
Old Feb 20, 2008, 01:42 PM

Default Re: Isn't a colostomy an "over kill"?
Originally Posted by DJ-Adia View Post
Any recommendations or ideas?
It is definitely in your father's best interest that a licensed physician provide all of the recommendations and ideas regarding medical care and future interventions. The membership at www.Allnurses.com is not in the position to give any medical advice.

Let's hope for a good outcome for your father.
Top
 
Closed Thread




Thread Tools


Who's Online
453 members
4,151 guests
4,604

24

16th Philly area hospital to stop delivering babies: Mercy...

2

Really interesting article on Indian open hearts

1

High-Tech Pump Does What Her Heart Can't

0

Air Force RN Force RN Found Not Guilty

7

Hospital Falters as Refuge for Illegal Immigrants

6

California Imposes Stricter Rules Regarding Drug Abuse In...

34

Are older nurses being forced out of the profession?

3

An outlook in California?

8

Australian surgeons successfully separate conjoined twins

44

Disruptive behavior by doctors, nurses persists a year...






Currently Reading This Page: 1 (0 members & 1 guests)

Interested in the hottest topics of the week? Subscribe to the Nurse-zine Newsletter.
Enter email address: