Dietetics for NursesProudfit, Fairfax T. (Fairfax Throckmorton)
Science
Dietetics for Nurses
Proudfit, Fairfax T. (Fairfax Throckmorton)
Diet in disease
~Before the Operation~ the patient must be made ready to take the
anesthetic. This is done by preventing an accumulation of food in the
intestinal tract. The day before the operation, then, it is necessary
to limit the diet materially by giving food in small amounts. The
light diets prescribed in acute conditions are as a rule suitable,
unless otherwise indicated.
~The Day of the Operation~ a cup of tea, coffee, or broth may usually
be given, with a cracker, unless the operation is to be performed
early in the morning, in which case the patient is given no food at
all. Some physicians allow a glass of milk on the day of the
operation, but this is left entirely to the physician in charge.
~After Operation~ a period of total abstinence from both food and
water is necessary in order not to increase or induce nausea and
vomiting. As soon as these symptoms subside, unless otherwise
indicated, a certain amount of hot, cold, or carbonated water may be
given. After this, albumen water may form the first nutrient
administered. Milk, broth and fruit beverages follow the giving of
albumen water, after which the semi-solids, such as soft eggs,
gelatin and milk soups, constitute the convalescent diet.
~The Character of the Diet~ after the operation depends wholly upon
the nature of the disease for which the operation was deemed
necessary.
~Diet After Gastro-enterostomy~ must be adjusted in order not to
increase the acid content of the gastric organ, otherwise the delicate
mucous linings of the intestines would be subjected to direct contact
with materials which are irritating in character, owing to the fact
that the mass passes through the new opening and has thus been
deprived of the neutralizing agents found in the upper part of the
intestinal tract. Under the circumstances milk, albumen water and fine
cereal gruels are the best foods from which to formulate the diet
after the necessary period of abstinence and fluid diet.
~After Appendicitis~, as a rule, no food is given for five days in
cases where there has been a pus formation and the appendix
gangrenous. Otherwise the routine treatment diet is given--water, then
albumen water, followed by broth, milk and fruit beverages, fine
cereal gruels, etc.
~After Liver and Gall bladder Operations~ the character of the food
must be considered. The fats are not well handled in such conditions
and must be avoided as far as possible. Broths must be well skimmed
and the milk fat free. Buttermilk and koumiss are probably the most
suitable forms in which to give milk in these cases.
~After Kidney Operations~ the work of elimination through kidney must
be limited as far as possible in such cases. While it is impossible to
rest the organ entirely, the giving of a proper diet under the
circumstances will do much toward relieving the strain placed upon it.
The protein foods, with the exception of milk, must be excluded from
the diet. The regime practiced in acute nephritis gives the most
satisfactory results.
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