What appropriate nursing intervention can help prevent dumping syndrome in a client on a solid diet after subtotal gastrectomy?

One effective nursing intervention to help prevent dumping syndrome in a client on a solid diet following subtotal gastrectomy is to remove fluids from the meal tray. The rationale behind this intervention is based on the pathophysiology of dumping syndrome, which can occur when food rapidly moves into the small intestine. This rapid transit can result in an osmotic shift, leading to gastrointestinal symptoms including cramping, diarrhea, and nausea.

By avoiding the consumption of fluids during meals, the volume of contents in the stomach is reduced, allowing for slower gastric emptying and minimizing the likelihood of osmotic overload in the small intestine. Additionally, this practice helps promote a sense of satiety, which can encourage the client to focus on solid food intake and avoid the discomfort associated with rapid digestion.

In contrast, providing concentrated, high-carbohydrate foods may exacerbate dumping syndrome because these foods can be digested quickly, increasing the risk of rapid gastric emptying. Similarly, offering two large meals a day can lead to a significant influx of food and fluid at one time, again increasing the likelihood of dumping syndrome. Asking the client to sit up for one hour after eating is beneficial for digestion, but it does not directly affect gastric emptying in the same way that managing fluid intake