Isn't a colostomy an "over kill"?

[DJ-Adia]

:idea: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?

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

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 http://www.Allnurses.com is not in the position to give any medical advice.

Let's hope for a good outcome for your father.