Food and liquids should be withheld by the nurse until the gag reflex recovers.
What is gag reflex?
The pharyngeal reflex, commonly referred to as the gag reflex, is an uncontrollable response that causes the soft palate to rise and the bilateral pharyngeal muscles to tighten. The posterior pharyngeal wall, the tonsil region, or the base of the tongue can all be stimulated to cause this reaction. The gag reflex is thought to be an evolutionary reaction that emerged as a means of preventing choking and swallowing foreign items. It is crucial for assessing the medullary brainstem and contributes to the diagnosis of brain death.
What is esophageal varices?
Esophageal varices are abnormal, enlarged veins in the tube that connects the throat and the stomach (esophagus). This condition occurs most often in the people with serious liver diseases.
Esophageal varices develop when normal blood flow to the liver is blocked by a clot or a scar tissue in the liver.
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