Two Case Studies of Nursing Care for Post-Cesarean Patients with Mechanical Small Bowel Obstruction and Postoperative Ileus
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64767/trcn.2026.280458Keywords:
การผ่าตัดคลอด, ภาวะลำไส้อุดตันจากกลไกทางกายภาพ, ภาวะลำไส้ไม่เคลื่อนไหวหลังผ่าตัด, การพยาบาลหลังผ่าตัดคลอดAbstract
Background: Gastrointestinal complications following cesarean delivery, including mechanical bowel obstruction and postoperative ileus, are uncommon but may delay maternal recovery and lead to serious complications, particularly mechanical bowel obstruction. Although these two conditions share similar clinical manifestations, such as abdominal pain, abdominal distension, nausea, vomiting, and failure to pass flatus or stool, they differ in their pathophysiology and management. Systematic clinical assessment and appropriate diagnostic imaging are therefore essential for differential diagnosis.
Objective: To present and compare the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, management, and nursing care of two post-cesarean patients with mechanical bowel obstruction and postoperative ileus.
Case Presentation: Two women who developed gastrointestinal complications following cesarean delivery were presented. The first patient developed mechanical small bowel obstruction, whereas the second developed postoperative ileus. Clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, diagnostic imaging, treatment, and nursing care were reviewed and compared.
Results: The timing of symptom onset, risk factors, clinical manifestations, and abdominal computed tomography (CT) findings helped differentiate the two conditions and guided appropriate treatment and nursing care. The cases also highlighted the proactive role of nurses in early assessment, complication surveillance, holistic care, and multidisciplinary collaboration.
Conclusion: Mechanical bowel obstruction and postoperative ileus may present with similar clinical manifestations yet require different diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Comprehensive assessment, timely diagnosis, and evidence-based nursing care are essential for reducing complications, promoting recovery, and enhancing maternal safety following cesarean delivery.
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