Your patient with peritonitis is NPO and complaining of thirst. What is your priority?
A. Increase the I.V. infusion rate.
B. Use diversion activities.
C. Provide frequent mouth care.
D. Give ice chips every 15 minutes.
Correct Answer: C. Provide frequent mouth care.
Frequent mouth care helps relieve dry mouth. Maintain NPO with nasogastric or intestinal aspiration. This reduces hyperactivity of bowel and diarrhea losses. Observe skin or mucous membrane dryness, turgor. Note peripheral and sacral edema. Hypovolemia, fluid shifts, and nutritional deficits contribute to poor skin turgor, taut edematous tissues.
Option A: Administer plasma or blood, fluids, electrolytes, diuretics as indicated. Replenishes circulating volume and electrolyte balance. Colloids (plasma, blood) help move water back into the intravascular compartment by increasing the osmotic pressure gradient. Diuretics may be used to assist in the excretion of toxins and to enhance renal function.
Option B: Change position frequently, provide frequent skincare, and maintain dry or wrinkle-free bedding. Edematous tissue with compromised circulation is prone to breakdown.
Option D: Eliminate noxious sights and smells from the environment. Limit intake of ice chips. This reduces gastric stimulation and vomiting response. Excessive use of ice chips during gastric aspiration can increase gastric washout of electrolytes.
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