Abdominal Assessment Flashcards
What are the learning objectives for this assessment?
To be able to: describe major abdominal organs, know the four quadrants of the abdomen, obtain subjective data, be aware of common findings and their significance, know the reason for the assessment sequence, and be able to document and handover sub and obj findings.
What are the four quadrants?
Right upper quadrant, Left upper quadrant, Right lower quadrant, and left lower quadrant.
What are the 3 quadrants that don’t fit into the four quadrants categories?
Epigastric (upper), Umbilical (middle), and Hypogastric or Suprapubic (lower)
What general subjective questions would you ask a patient who has abdominal pain?
Describe signs/symptoms, when did it begin, where is it and does it radiate, how long does it last, pain scale 0-10, what makes it better/worse, what other symptoms are there and how does it affect you?
What are the symptoms of abdominal pain to explore aka use coldspa on?
Abdominal pain, change in appetite, nausea and vomiting, indigestion, and change in bowel motion and patterns.
What is some other important subjective information we will want to know regarding a patient with abdominal pain?
Past personal health history related to the abdomen, past abdominal surgery, appendix, gallstones, UTIs, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, renal disease, and personal health behaviors (diet, fluid intake, smoking, alcohol, and exercise)
What order is the objective review done in for the abdominal assessment?
Inspection, auscultation, percussion, and palpation.
Why do we auscultate before percussing during the abdominal assessment?
Because we dont want to make any disturbance to the abdomen or cause any pressure and discomfort.
What is included in preparing for the abdominal assessment.
Explaining the assessment and gaining consent, hand hygiene, enchourage the patient to empty bladder, ensure patients clothing is appropriate, only pillows under head and knees, patients arms are by their side, and then before starting ask if the patient has the abdominal pain and where it is located.
What do we look for during inspection of the abdomen?
Demeanor (knees up, motionless or restlessness), appearance (skin, colour, lesions, scars) contour of abdomen, symmetry (bulges, masses, and umbilical positioning), and pulsations or movement.
What would be some causes of distension?
Pregnancy, obesity, constipation, ascites, ovarian cyst, fibroids, and cancer/tumour growth.
What are the steps for auscultating the abdomen?
Ensure stethoscope is clean, warm the stethoscope, place in right lower quadrant (listen for up to 5 mins if bowel sounds are not heard) once bowel sounds are heard move to the next quadrant. Auscultate the 3 other quadrants noting either active, hyperactive, hypoactive or absent sounds. min of 1min at each site in absence of bowel sounds.
What is a normal/active sound found in the abdomen?
High pitched gurgling sounds, approx. 5-35 sounds/min or at least 1 every 5-15 seconds.
What is a hypoactive sound found in the abdomen?
Often sounds - less than 5 sounds per min.
What is a hyperactive sound found in the abdomen?
Loud gurgling, frequent sounds, greater than 35 sounds/min. Could note borborygmi.
