title: Management of constipation in the critically ill patient.
abstract: Teamwork and a well-known problem-solving technique are used to give a flexible solution to the problem of bowel management in the critically ill patient. A literature review of constipation is linked to treatment of the critically ill patient. General and specific factors are discussed including nasogastric feeding pharmacology. Design and implementation of a protocol for bowel management for patients in the intensive care field of nursing are demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit, Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bonson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gager
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lake
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D003248:Constipation / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing*; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods*; D003663:Decision Trees; D006801:Humans; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors