Continence issues in acute care.
Urinary incontinence affects up to 43 per cent of acute care patients. Toileting is a function of intact bladder, sphincters, and nervous system. Five types of incontinence are stress, urge, reflex, total, and functional. Problems affecting patients in acute care are: 1. Diagnostic studies 2. Treatments--for example, intravenous fluids, hyperalimentation, medications, catheters 3. Bedrest 4. Restraints 5. Pain 6. Iatrogenic conditions 7. Environment Assessment includes a specific history and physical examination, focused on previous episodes of incontinence, functional ability, and cognitive status. Management includes scheduled fluid intake and toileting, manipulation of the environment, and attention to orientation and psychological factors. The treatment of fecal incontinence in the hospital elderly includes: 1. Assessment of incontinence and contributing factors; 2. Bowel regimen and environmental assists for persons with periodic incontinence; 3. Treatment of diarrhea or constipation; and 4. Protection of perineal skin from stool exposure.
Lincoln
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University Hospitals of Cleveland, Ohio.
Roberts
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D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods*; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000451:nursing* / Q000628:therapy; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000145:classification / Q000451:nursing* / Q000628:therapy