Assessment

Question 1

COLDSPA

Answer 1

Character
Onset
Location
Duration
Severity
Pattern
Associated factors

Question 2

Types of Abdominal Pain

Answer 2

1. Visceral Pain
2. Parietal Pain
3. Referred Abdominal Pain

Question 3

Types of Abdominal Pain

Caused by distention hollow organs or stretching of solid organs

Answer 3

Visceral Pain

Question 4

Types of Abdominal Pain

Description: Achy, Burning, Colicky, Crampy, Dull, Poorly localized

Onset: Gradual

Answer 4

Visceral Pain

Question 5

Types of Abdominal Pain

Caused by inflammation or irritation of parietal peritoneum (appendicitis, peritonitis)

Answer 5

Parietal Pain

Question 6

Auscultation of the Abdomen: where to start?

Answer 6

Start from RLQ in a clockwise rotation

Listen for 1 minute per quadrant or 3 minutes before determining absent bowel sounds

Question 6

Types of Abdominal Pain

Description: sharp, stabbing pain, steady, and severe, tenderness, guarding, rigidity, rebound, well localized

Onset: Sudden

Answer 6

Parietal Pain

Question 6

Types of Abdominal Pain

Pain occurs, travels or refers from the primary site and becomes highly localized at distant sites

Answer 6

Referred Abdominal Pain

Question 7

Sequence of Abdominal Assessment

Answer 7

Inspection
Auscultation
Percussion (use diaphragm of stethoscope)
Palpation

Question 8

Normal bowel sounds

Answer 8

1 sound every 5-15 seconds or 5-30 soft clicks or gurgles per minute per quadrant

Question 9

Abnormal bowel sounds

Answer 9

Hypoactive
Hyperactive (Borborygmi)
Absent

Question 10

Abnormal percussion

Answer 10

Hyperresonance - heard over gaseous distended abdomen

Dullness - heard over liver or spleen

Question 11

Palpation of the Abdomen: where to start?

Answer 11

Start from RUQ

note: examine the point of area with tenderness last