Health Assessment : NUR 210BL
Health Assessment : NUR 210BL
subject: System abdomen
Provide short answers to the following questions.
1. Describe the proper positioning and preparation for a patientfor an abdominal exam.
2. When you are inspecting the abdomen, what findings should younote?
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 4descriptors)
6. Draw a figure showing the 4 quadrants of the abdomen andlabel each one.
Answer:
The abdomen is the part of the body which consists ofoesophagus,stomach,small intestine,colon and rectum. Thegastrointestinal tract helps to digest food and excrete wasteproducts. 1. The abdominal examination plays a vital role in identifying anyabnormalities. The examiner should relax the patient and explainhim about the examination to be performed. He should examine thepatient in supine position to assess any evidence of tenderness,palpating and auscultation. . In inspection ofabdomen, observe the shape,size and evidence of any marks or scars.In auscultation of the abdomen, assess for any bowel sounds,checkbruits. In percussions , size and location will be noted.There willbe air filled sound in stomach will be heard. In palpating ofabdomen, ask the patient for pain in any particular area. We canclassify the palpating into two. Superficial palpating and deeppalpating. Superficial abdomen: to assess the superficial area ofabdomen. Deep palpation: to assess intra abdominal area for anytenderness or pain. 3. A distended bladder is examined by palpatinga suprapubic bulging to percussion .It means abdominal mass isnoted during inspection of abdomen. 4. The auscultation with stethoscope will be done indifferent parts of the abdomen to hear the bowel sounds. Thediaphragm of the stethoscope should be pressed gently and firmlyclosed to the abdomen to know about the obstruction, If the bowelsounds are not heard, still the examiner should wait foranother 3 minutes . 5. Bowel sounds arecharacterized by hollow sounds similar to sounds of water movingthrough pipes. They are described as gurgling,rumbling,growling andhigh -pitched sounds.