A nurse is providing education to a client who has recently been diagnosed with Crohn's disease. Which of the following explanations by the nurse best simplifies and explains the disorder in non-medical terms?

A. Crohn's disease causes continuous inflammation of the mucosa and sub-mucosa of the colon and rectal linings: This description is more applicable to ulcerative colitis, which involves continuous inflammation and primarily affects the colon and rectum, not Crohn's disease, which can affect any part of the GI tract.

B. Crohn's disease is characterized by a transmural granulomatous inflammation that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract: While this is an accurate medical description of Crohn’s disease, it uses technical language that may be difficult for a patient to understand.

C. Crohn's disease has the appearance of a patchwork quilt with some areas that are clear and some with sores. This description provides a clear and visual explanation of the nature of Crohn’s disease, which typically affects the gastrointestinal tract in a "skip lesion" pattern, where some areas are inflamed (sores), and others appear normal (clear areas).

D. Crohn's disease looks like what would appear to be a second-degree burn in the colon and rectum areas only: This description is inaccurate for Crohn’s disease, as it implies the disease is limited to the colon and rectum, which is not the case. Crohn’s can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to the anus.

A. Laxatives are contraindicated in clients who have a small bowel obstruction. Laxatives such as senna are contraindicated in bowel obstructions because they can increase peristalsis and exacerbate the blockage, leading to complications like bowel perforation or ischemia.

B. Bulk-forming laxatives such as psyllium should be substituted for this client: Bulk-forming laxatives like psyllium would not be appropriate either because they rely on bowel movement for efficacy. They could worsen the obstruction by adding bulk.

C. An osmotic laxative, such as magnesium citrate, should be substituted in this client: Osmotic laxatives, like magnesium citrate, are also contraindicated in bowel obstruction because they draw water into the bowel, which can worsen distension and pressure on the obstructed area.

D. The prescribed medication should be administered via NG route rather than the oral route for this client: While NG tubes may be used to decompress the bowel in cases of obstruction, administering a laxative through an NG tube would still be contraindicated, as laxatives increase the risk of further complications in bowel obstruction.