A client is admitted with a small bowel (small intestine) obstruction. Which assessment findings are consistent with this diagnosis?
SELECT ALL THAT APPLY

Bowel sounds are the result of muscular contractions in the intestines, indicating the movement of food, fluids, and gas through the gastrointestinal tract. After surgery, the normal function of the intestines, including peristalsis, may be temporarily impaired. As the intestines recover and regain their normal motility, bowel sounds will become audible.

The return of bowel sounds is an encouraging sign that the gastrointestinal system is starting to function again. It indicates that peristaltic activity has resumed and that the intestines are moving and processing the contents within. This is an essential step in the postoperative recovery process, as it indicates the return of normal gastrointestinal function and can lead to the resumption of oral intake and passage of stool.

While the other options may also be associated with the return of GI function, such as feeling hungry or passing flatus or stool, the presence of bowel sounds is a more reliable and direct assessment finding that indicates the resumption of peristaltic activity.

A paralytic ileus is a type of bowel obstruction characterized by the impairment or absence of normal bowel motility. It occurs due to the temporary paralysis or dysfunction of the muscles that propel food and waste material through the intestines. After surgery, paralytic ileus can occur as a result of the handling of the intestines during the procedure, the effects of anesthesia, or the body's response to inflammation and trauma.

The absence of bowel sounds is a key indicator of paralytic ileus. Normally, bowel sounds are present and indicate the movement of contents through the intestines. However, in a paralytic ileus, the bowel sounds may be diminished or absent due to the lack of peristalsis (wave-like contractions that move food along the digestive tract).