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Stool Characteristics

Fecal assessment provides important information about a patient's gastrointestinal health and symptoms. Key aspects to examine include stool color, odor, and consistency which can indicate issues like bleeding, inflammation, or malabsorption. Abnormal findings on inspection or occult blood testing should prompt further medical evaluation and may point to conditions such as colon cancer, ulcers, or diverticulosis. Distinct foul odors can arise from blood, fat, or colon cancer in the stool. Overall, thorough fecal assessment is a valuable nursing technique.

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129 views

Stool Characteristics

Fecal assessment provides important information about a patient's gastrointestinal health and symptoms. Key aspects to examine include stool color, odor, and consistency which can indicate issues like bleeding, inflammation, or malabsorption. Abnormal findings on inspection or occult blood testing should prompt further medical evaluation and may point to conditions such as colon cancer, ulcers, or diverticulosis. Distinct foul odors can arise from blood, fat, or colon cancer in the stool. Overall, thorough fecal assessment is a valuable nursing technique.

Uploaded by

Paul Mark Pilar
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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616 UNIT VI / Responses to Altered Bowel Elimination

■ Assessing Stool Characteristics


Inspect feces for color, odor, and consistency after the rectal exam ODOR
or after defecation. Both hands are gloved. ■ Distinct, foul odors may be noted with stools containing blood
or extra fat or in cases of colon cancer.
COLOR
■ Blood on the stool results from bleeding from the sigmoid CONSISTENCY
colon, anus, or rectum. Blood within the stool indicates bleed- ■ Hard stools or long, flat stools may result from a spastic colon
ing from the colon due to ulcerative colitis, diverticulosis, or tu- or bowel obstruction due to a tumor or hemorrhoids. Hard
mors. Black, tarry stools, called melena, occur with upper gas- stools may also result from ingestion of oral iron.
trointestinal bleeding. Oral iron may turn stools black and ■ Mucousy, slimy feces may indicate inflammation and occur in
mask melena. irritable bowel syndrome.
■ Grayish or whitish stools can result from biliary tract obstruc- ■ Watery, diarrhea stools appear with malabsorption problems,
tion due to lack of bile in stool. irritable bowel syndrome, emotional or psychologic stress, in-
■ Greasy, frothy, yellow stools, called steatorrhea, may appear gestion of spoiled foods, or lactose intolerance.
with fat malabsorption.

Fecal Assessment with Abnormal Findings ✓ A positive occult blood test requires further testing for
• Inspect the client’s feces. After palpating the rectum, with- colon cancer or gastrointestinal bleeding due to peptic ul-
draw your finger gently. Inspect any feces on the glove. Note cers, ulcerative colitis, or diverticulosis.
color and/or presence of blood. Also use gloved fingers to • Note the odor of the feces.
note consistency. ✓ Distinctly foul odors may be noted with stools containing
✓ See Box 23–1 for information about stool characteristics. blood or extra fat or in cases of colon cancer.
• Test the feces for occult blood. Use a commercial testing kit.

EXPLORE MediaLink
NCLEX review questions,case studies,care plan activities,MediaLink Click on Chapter 23 to select the activities for this chapter. For ani-
applications, and other interactive resources for this chapter can be mations, video clips, more NCLEX review questions, and an audio
found on the Companion Website at www.prenhall.com/lemone. glossary, access the Student CD-ROM accompanying this textbook.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Dammel, T. (1997). Fecal occult-blood testing: Langan, J. (1998). Abdominal assessment in the Weber, J., & Kelley, J. (2002). Health assessment
Looking for hidden danger. Nursing97, 27(7), home: From A to Zzz. Home Healthcare Nurse, in nursing (2nd ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott.
44–45. 16(1), 50–58. Wilson, S., & Giddens, J. (2001). Health assessment
Goff, K. (1997). Assessment of the gastrointestinal Lyneham, J. (2001). Physical examination (ab- for nursing practice (2nd ed.). St. Louis: Mosby.
tract. Support Line, 19(2), 3–7. domen, thorax and lungs): A review. Australian Wright, J. (1997). Seven abdominal assessment
Hall, G., Karstens, M., Rakel, B., Swanson, E., & Journal of Advanced Nursing, 18(3), 31. signs every emergency nurse should know.
Davidson, A. (1995). Managing constipation Watson, R. (2001). Assessing the gastrointestinal Journal of Emergency Nursing, 23(5),
using a research-based protocol. MEDSURG tract in older people. 2: The lower GI tract. 446–450.
Nursing, 4(1), 11–18. Nursing Older People, 13(1), 27–28.
Kirton, C. (1997). Assessing bowel sounds.
Nursing 97, 27(3), 64.

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