Question

Don't fall for 'reestablishing a normal bowel pattern' as a priority with small bowel obstruction. Because the patient can't take in oral fluids 'maintaining ____ ____' comes first.

Answer 1

In cases of small bowel obstruction, the highest priority is maintaining fluid balance to prevent serious complications like low blood volume.

Step-by-step explanation:

When dealing with a small bowel obstruction, maintaining fluid balance should be considered the top priority. This is because during a bowel obstruction scenario, the patient cannot absorb or process oral fluids normally. In such conditions, it's vital to prevent life-threatening situations such as the osmotic water loss from the blood into the intestinal lumen, which can occur if chyme is moved too rapidly into the small intestine. Managing this fluid balance helps to maintain adequate blood volume and supports the body's physiological needs despite the obstruction.