MOM vs. Suppository?

Published

I am a fairly new nurse (year in) and I just have a question about BM's. I had a patient whom had a whoping pelvic fx with ext. fixator. He had a bowel movement the day before and then a small, hard BM that day. He said he felt as if he needed to go more. He said he didn't need to right then and there, but needed more of a stool softener. He was already on colace TID and Senna at night. I wasn't sure if I should give him a suppository or MOM because I didn't want him to sit on a bedpan for a long period of time because he was on bedrest. Plus, it was at 7pm at the end of my shift. So, I gave him the MOM. Did I do thr right thing? What do you nurses prefer? Thanks

Alana

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg.

One is probably no better than the other, but I perfer to give pelvic fracture patients because they are on bedrest and on narcotics, MOM to the bowels from higher up to down.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in psych. rehab nursing, float pool.

With softners already on board, I will usually start with MOM, if after 12 hours that doesn't work then I follow up with suppository usually 30-60 min. after they have eaten. Do not forget warm prune juice and mom together does work wonders.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Home Health Care.

I would have made the same decision you did and picked the MOM.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I agree with the other responses. I usually go to a suppository if a dose or two of MOM doesn't work.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED, ICU, Heme/Onc.

I would have done MOM first as well, and made sure the patient upped his fluid intake if he was not restricted.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med Surg, Peds, OB, L/D, Ortho.

well...due to the fractures i wouldn't want the patient on the pan for a long time either. that said ... after all the po stool softeners and gentle stimulants and no results i can quote you what was told to me by a little ole lady ....."honey don't you know you got to get the big boy off the bus before the children can get out?" thus the "bullet" ! we also use a nice drink called prapple....warm prune juice and apple juice. good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

LOL, for some reason I read "Crapple" in the last post....*searches for glasses*

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, nutrition.

If the stool is "right there" but just won't come on out (common with narcotics + bedrest) then a suppository is a good choice. However, an alert and oriented male will usually refuse it lol!

But MOM works all the way through, so if it's higher up, it will help it come on down.

If the patient is having hard stools, they probably need more fluid in the GI tract...seems like IV fluids just don't help. So they need to either drink more or if they're NPO on tube feeding they need more free water flushes or a less concentrated product.

Makes constipation difficult to manage in a fluid-restricted patient.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yep..MOM first (unless it is a need to get it out now BM) then we give a suppository, then enema if the others don't work.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Utilization Management.
. Do not forget warm prune juice and mom together does work wonders.

We used to give that so often, we called it a Geriatric Cocktail or a Black Cow. ;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Telemetry, M/S.

What is the rationale for warming the prune juice prior to giving it? Does that really help the stool softening or is it a taste thing?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion