اليوم الثاني بعد استئصال جزء من الأمعاء: البطن منتفخ، والمريض لم يُخرج غازات، وأصوات الأمعاء غائبة، وتقيأ مرتين. ما التدخل المتوقع؟

On day 2 after bowel resection, the client’s abdomen is distended, he has passed no flatus, bowel sounds are absent and he has vomited twice. What intervention is expected?

1. Switching to a high-fibre diet to activate the bowel
2. Giving a strong laxative to open the bowel and pass gas
3. Nil by mouth and a nasogastric tube on low intermittent suction
4. Starting clear fluids to stimulate bowel movement again

Answer: C) Nil by mouth and a nasogastric tube on low intermittent suction. This is post-operative paralytic ileus, treated by resting the bowel: NPO and an NG tube to decompress the stomach and prevent vomiting and aspiration, with IV fluids and mobilisation. Food and laxatives worsen distension and vomiting.