Which of the following is NOT listed as a cause of constipation?

Study for ELNEC 4: Symptom Management in Palliative Care Test with flashcards and multiple choice questions. Hints and explanations included! Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT listed as a cause of constipation?

Constipation in palliative care is often seen as arising from problems that directly impair stool passage or motility, such as obstruction or metabolic disturbances, rather than from insufficient fluid alone. The direct causes commonly listed are an intestinal obstruction, which physically blocks stool movement; hypercalcemia, which reduces gut smooth muscle contractility; and hypokalemia, which also impairs peristalsis. These are primary etiologies that explain why stool cannot move forward. Dehydration can worsen constipation by making stools drier and harder to pass, but in many standard lists of primary causes it is considered a contributing factor rather than a standalone etiologic cause. That’s why it’s not listed as a primary cause in this context. Clinically, you’d still address hydration and fluid status as part of a comprehensive plan, since improving hydration can help, but the item focuses on the main etiologies rather than supportive factors.

Constipation in palliative care is often seen as arising from problems that directly impair stool passage or motility, such as obstruction or metabolic disturbances, rather than from insufficient fluid alone. The direct causes commonly listed are an intestinal obstruction, which physically blocks stool movement; hypercalcemia, which reduces gut smooth muscle contractility; and hypokalemia, which also impairs peristalsis. These are primary etiologies that explain why stool cannot move forward.

Dehydration can worsen constipation by making stools drier and harder to pass, but in many standard lists of primary causes it is considered a contributing factor rather than a standalone etiologic cause. That’s why it’s not listed as a primary cause in this context. Clinically, you’d still address hydration and fluid status as part of a comprehensive plan, since improving hydration can help, but the item focuses on the main etiologies rather than supportive factors.

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