Question

Abdominal and Neurological Assessment

1. How long do you listen for bowel sounds in each quadrant? If there are no sounds, what might this indicate? If the sounds are hyperactive, what might this indicate?
2. Why do you assess for bruits and what may be causing this?
3. Which sounds are normally heard during percussion of the abdomen? When would these findings be abnormal?
4. When assessing pupillary response, what nerves are you assessing and what do these nerves control?
5. List five reasons for a non-reactive pupil?

Answer 1

1)Listening to bowel sound in each quadrant must be done for atleast 5 minutes.

Since bowel sound are produced by the movement of the intestines,no sound can indicate an inactive or underactive intestine as in Ileus, a condition in which there is a lack of intestinal activity. Many medical conditions may lead to ileus. This problem cause the build up of gas, fluids, and the contents of the intestines and break open (rupture) the bowel wall.

Medical condions include:

• Blocked blood vessels that prevent the proper blood flow to intestines . For example, blood clots can cause occlusion of mesenteric artery
• Mechanical bowel obstruction is caused by hernia, tumor, adhesions, or similar conditions that can block the intestines
• A problem with the nerves to the intestines.
• Administration of drugs that slow down movement in the intestines such as opiates, anticholinergics, and phenothiazines
• General anesthesia
• Surgery in the abdomen

Hyperactive bowel sounds is an indication of stomach upset, cramping and anything that increases peristalsis. The location and pitch of the sounds are important as indicates the strength of the peristalsis and points to a problem.

Medical conditions include:

• Crohn disease
• Diarrhea
• Food allergy
• GI bleeding
• Infectious enteritis
• Ulcerative colitis