The nurse is checking the residual volume on a patient who is getting intermittent tube feedings via his NG tube.Which of the following may indicate that the patient has started to bleed again?
A)The nurse obtains brown aspirate.
B)The nurse notices that the abdomen is distended.
C)The nurse obtains red aspirate.
D)The nurse notices severe respiratory distress.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Red or brown coloring (coffee-grounds appearance)of fluid aspirated from a feeding tube indicates new blood or old blood,respectively,in the gastrointestinal tract.If the color is not related to medications recently administered,notify the physician.Abdominal distention usually indicates that the tube feeding is not progressing through the GI tract.This could be a sign of paralytic ileus.Stop the tube feeding and notify the physician.If the patient develops severe respiratory distress (e.g. ,dyspnea,decreased oxygen saturation,increased pulse rate),this may be a result of aspiration or tube displacement into the lung.Stop any enteral feedings.Notify the physician.Obtain chest radiographs as ordered.

The Nurse Is Checking the Residual Volume on a Patient