Introduction: Constipation occurs more often in hospitalized elderly after surgery. It occurs as a result of extrinsic factors after surgery or usage of different pharmacological agents. Nurse has to recognize this risk factors and causes of postoperative constipation. She has to plan nursing interventions in order to prevent or relieve the symptoms of postoperative constipation. Purpose: The purpose of this diploma work is to find different methods and options of nursing interventions for preventing constipation in elderly after surgery. The aims of this diploma work are to identify most common causes of constipation occurrence in elderly after surgery, to describe nursing interventions for relieving symptoms of constipation in elderly after surgery and to describe nursing interventions for preventing the occurrence of constipation symptoms in elderly after surgery. Methods: This diploma work is based on a descriptive method of work. Reviewed literature was Slovenian and English. The following international databases, CINAHL, Google Scholar, PubMed, portal DiKul and COBISS, were used for literature search. Literature was chosen based on suitability with the studied theme with critical reading. Literature was searched with the help of key words. Results: Postoperative constipation in elderly can be caused by reduced average daily physical activity and mobility, changed eating habits, reduced intake of fibre and fluids, poorly done oral hygiene, use of anaesthetics and analgesics in the time of hospitalization after surgery. It can also be caused by different psychosomatic states of the elderly. Nursing interventions for preventing postoperative constipation in elderly are recognizing risk factors of postoperative constipation, recognizing deviation of normal defecation in patients and individual treatment of patients. Nursing interventions for relieving symptoms of already present constipation in elderly are increased intake of fibre and fluid, increased mobility and promotion of exercise. Nurse has to promote the use of toilet and she has to secure an appropriate environment and area for defecation. She has to help the elderly with finding the right position when defecating in hospital bed, she uses laxatives or enema when necessary and promotes reflexotheraphy. Most importantly there has to be an emphatic and confiding relationship between the patient and nurse. Discussion and conclusion: Nurse has to recognize different causes of postoperative constipation in elderly after surgery. She has to evaluate risk factors for its occurrence with the help of evaluation scales and has to make individual nursing plan for preventing the occurrence of constipation symptoms or for solving already present constipation. Increased intake of fibre and fluids, preventive use of laxatives after surgery, encouraging patients to exercise and use a toilet, nurse’s emphatic and open relationship to the topic of defecation directly impacts the occurrence of postoperative constipation in elderly.
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