The patient with a history of colon cancer presents to the emergency department reporting significant abdominal pain, bloating, and vomiting. Which question to garner more information about the emesis is most important?

“How did the emesis smell?”. The patient with a history of colon cancer may have abdominal pain, bloating, and vomiting for several reasons; the most concerning of which is a bowel obstruction. This can cause the backing up of intestinal contents and reversal of peristalsis, which results in stool in the emesis. A fecal odor is the best description to determine that the cause of the patient’s symptoms is an obstruction. The color of emesis can change based on the patient’s diet and is less helpful. The number of episodes and preceding factors are of less importance in determining the presence of an obstruction than the presence of a fecal odor.

The patient with a history of colon cancer presents to the emerge...

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Physiological Adaptation
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Category: Physiological Adaptation
Difficulty: 9

Topics: Assessment Communication & Documentation Elimination Gastrointestinal Hematology/Oncology

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