PN Adult Medical Surgical Practice Exam

To decrease episodes of dumping syndrome after a gastrectomy, what is the best position for the client after meals?

1. Place the client in the supine position after meals.

2. Administer pancreatic enzymes before meals.

3. Encourage the client to drink 240 mL of fluids with meals.

4. Offer the client three meals daily.

The correct answer is: Place the client in the supine position after meals.

After a gastrectomy, clients may experience dumping syndrome, which occurs when food moves too quickly from the stomach into the small intestine. To mitigate this condition, positioning plays a vital role in facilitating digestion and reducing symptoms. Placing the client in a supine position after meals can help slow gastric emptying. This position allows gravity to assist in keeping the food in the stomach longer, thereby preventing rapid transit to the small intestine. This can help minimize the symptoms associated with dumping syndrome, such as nausea, abdominal cramping, and diarrhea. Other options, while they may address various aspects of post-gastrectomy care, do not directly contribute to managing dumping syndrome in the same way. For instance, administering pancreatic enzymes before meals may be beneficial in aiding digestion if there’s an enzyme deficiency but doesn’t address the rapid stomach emptying characteristic of dumping syndrome. Encouraging fluid consumption with meals can potentially exacerbate the issue, as this can lead to increased gastric volume and accelerate gastric emptying. Offering three meals daily aligns with dietary adjustments post-surgery but does not take into account the mechanics of digestion influenced by body position. Thus, the focus on post-meal positioning is crucial in effectively managing and minimizing episodes of dumping syndrome.