Defecation in comatose patients.

Discussion in 'Human Science' started by Fafnir665, Jun 26, 2003.

  1. Fafnir665 You just got served. Registered Senior Member

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    do comatose patients defecate? i know they get the saline drip and such, but do they get anything they can't expel in their urine?
     
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  3. Medicine*Woman Jesus: Mythstory--Not History! Valued Senior Member

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    Yes, they do. If the comatose state is recent, they would probably be on just IV fluids. If they have been comatose for a longer period, they may be on IV nutrition. Of course, comatose patients have no control over their bowels or bladder, so they would have a bladder catheter for the urine and essentially nothing but a bed pad under them. Because the IV nutrition is liquid, of course, since they can't take anything by mouth in a comatose state, their stools are usually runny. Even the comatose need to maintain healthy nutrition. It's gotta go somewhere. Also, the dead defecate, too, for a short time following the shutdown of the body.
     
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