Question

Health Assessment :  NUR 210BL

subject: System abdomen

Provide short answers to the following questions.

1. Describe the proper positioning and preparation for a patient for an abdominal exam.

2. When you are inspecting the abdomen, what findings should you note?

3. Explain how you would inspect for bladder distension.

4. Describe the procedure for auscultation of bowel sounds.

5. How can bowel sounds be characterized? (What are the 4 descriptors)

6. Draw a figure showing the 4 quadrants of the abdomen and label each one.

Answer 1

The abdomen is the part of the body which consists of oesophagus,stomach,small intestine,colon and rectum. The gastrointestinal tract helps to digest food and excrete waste products.                                                                                                                                                                          1. The abdominal examination plays a vital role in identifying any abnormalities. The examiner should relax the patient and explain him about the examination to be performed. He should examine the patient in supine position to assess any evidence of tenderness, palpating and auscultation.    . In inspection of abdomen, observe the shape,size and evidence of any marks or scars. In auscultation of the abdomen, assess for any bowel sounds,check bruits. In percussions , size and location will be noted.There will be air filled sound in stomach will be heard. In palpating of abdomen, ask the patient for pain in any particular area. We can classify the palpating into two. Superficial palpating and deep palpating. Superficial abdomen: to assess the superficial area of abdomen. Deep palpation: to assess intra abdominal area for any tenderness or pain. 3. A distended bladder is examined by palpating a suprapubic bulging to percussion .It means abdominal mass is noted during inspection of abdomen.                                                                                                                         4. The auscultation with stethoscope will be done in different parts of the abdomen to hear the bowel sounds. The diaphragm of the stethoscope should be pressed gently and firmly closed to the abdomen to know about the obstruction, If the bowel sounds are not heard, still the examiner should wait for another  3 minutes .    5. Bowel sounds are characterized by hollow sounds similar to sounds of water moving through pipes. They are described as gurgling,rumbling,growling and high -pitched sounds.