Question

Nurse is caring for a client who experiences a major burn over 20% of the body. The nurse is performing a focus assessment and notes that the client had abdominal distention. The nurse suspects the client might have a paralytic ileus due to:

a) Increased peristalsis.

b) Adequate bowel function.

c) Impaired bowel motility.

d) Reduced gastric acidity.

Answer 1

The most likely cause of abdominal distention in a burn patient may be a paralytic ileus due to impaired bowel motility, which occurs when the intestines either slow down or stop moving food through.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a nurse is caring for a client who experiences a major burn over 20% of the body and notes abdominal distention, the nurse might suspect the client has a paralytic ileus due to impaired bowel motility. In the context of major burns or other severe injuries, the body may respond with a dramatic decrease in the movement of the gastrointestinal tract as part of the systemic reaction to stress. This decreased motility can prevent food from moving through the intestines normally, leading to distention and the symptoms of ileus.

Answer choice 'c' Impaired bowel motility is the correct answer because it describes a condition where movements of the intestine slow down or stop, leading to distention. Increased peristalsis, adequate bowel function, and reduced gastric acidity do not typically cause paralytic ileus.