Bowel Sounds & NPO

[aria_alice]

I was talking to a nurse during one of my clinicals regarding NPO and bowel sounds and he said something that confused me. In nursing school, we were taught that typically a patient in NPO would have hypoactive bowel sounds since there is no food to cause intestinal movement. However, the nurse I was speaking with said that the patient's bowel sounds would be hyperactive because they are hungry therefore you'll hear growling sounds.

I personally haven't heard a NPO patient with hyperactive bowel sounds. I'm not sure if I misunderstood him or what but has any of you experienced this? Is this right, wrong, common, rare?

Thanks

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

Patients who are NPO can have absent, hypoactive OR hyperactive bowel sounds depending on the situation.

Fresh abdomen post-op? Probably absent.

Resolving obstruction? Hypoactive.

Pancreatitis on gut rest but is hungry as all get-out? Hyperactive.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

Too late to edit: NPO just means the doctor won't let you eat!

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

There are also times you will hear "tinkling/high pitched bowel sounds" They are produced by bowel becoming distended in response to peristalsis/ trying to move food and fluid along the bowel against a mechanical obstruction.

The NPO status really has no real impact on the Bowel sounds...the bowel sounds are based on the medical situation that is/was present.

[aria_alice]

I should have been more clear; I meant more on post-op. But your answers have been great, thank you!

[Kuriin, BSN, RN]

I should have been more clear; I meant more on post-op. But your answers have been great, thank you!

Typically post-op will be hypoactive. It's not always the case, though. :]