A nurse is caring for a client with suspected cholecystitis. The client complains of dark urine and pale-colored stools. Which of the following explanations should the nurse provide for these changes in bowel habits?

Choice A reason:

Fasting for 12 hours is not required before an abdominal ultrasound. However, the client may be asked to avoid eating fatty or heavy meals before the procedure.

Choice B reason:

Filling the bladder with a gallon of water is unnecessary and not related to an abdominal ultrasound. A full bladder is required for pelvic ultrasounds, not abdominal ultrasounds.

Choice C reason:

Avoiding drinking liquids for 2 hours before the ultrasound is not necessary. In fact, a full bladder is preferred for better visualization during an abdominal ultrasound.

Choice D reason:

This statement is correct. To have a full bladder for the ultrasound, the client should drink 16 ounces of water about one hour before the procedure. A full bladder helps lift the intestines and improves the visualization of the gallbladder and surrounding structures.

Choice A reason:

Dark urine and pale-colored stools are not typically associated with a gastrointestinal infection. These symptoms are more indicative of changes in bile flow or bilirubin excretion.

Choice B reason:

While cholecystitis can lead to malabsorption of nutrients, it is not the primary cause of changes in stool color to pale.

Choice C reason:

This statement is correct. Cholecystitis can obstruct the bile duct, leading to a decrease in bilirubin excretion. Bilirubin gives urine its characteristic color, and when excretion is reduced, the urine becomes darker (brownish). Likewise, the absence of bilirubin in the stool leads to pale-colored or clay-colored stools.

Choice D reason:

Dehydration may occur in some cases of cholecystitis, but it is not the primary cause of changes in urine and stool color.