Module 3- Abdominal Assessment Flashcards
what is the correct order for the abdominal assessment?
inspect, auscultate, palpate, percuss
why is it important to auscultate before palpating?
to lessen the chance of altering the frequency and character of bowel sounds
how to men and women breathe?
men breathe abdominally and women breathe more costally
define peristalsis
movement of contents through the intestines
when auscultating, what are you listening for?
listening for bowel sounds
what is increased motility caused by?
inflammation of bowel, anxiety, diarrhea, bleeding, excessive ingestion of laxatives, reaction of intestines to certain foods
what is palpation used for?
detect areas of abdominal tenderness, distension, or masses
define guarding
tensing muscles upon palpation (tells you the pain is pretty significant)
while doing the abdominal assessment, what is something you MUST complete when pain is suspected?
Pain assessment!!!
describe the process of defecation (bowel elimination)
begins with contractions in the left colon, moving the stool toward anus
-relaxation of the internal anal sphincter occurs when stool reaches the rectum and there’s a need to defecate
define the valsalva maneuver
when pressure is exerted to expel feces through voluntary contraction of the abdominal muscles and the diaphragm while maintaining forced expiration against a closed airway
if bed ridden, what is the best position for one who needs to defecate?
have head of bed up as much as possible to allow as normal of a squatting position as possible
list factors affecting normal bowel elimination
- fibre is a good thing to eat to reduce constipation (brown bread, vegetables)
- physical activity (promotes peristalsis)
what are the characteristics of normal feces?
brown, soft, formed, occurs daily-2/3 times weekly
what are characteristics of abnormal feces?
white, black (tarry), mucous/pus, liquid or hard, narrow, bloody, more than 3 times a day or less than once a week
briefly describe the process of digital removal of stool
- explain procedure
- hand hygiene and gloves**
- index finger with jelly
- advance finger along rectal wall
- gently loosen fecal mass by massaging around it
- work feces down toward end of rectum
- assess vitals
- take off gloves and hand hygiene
what is enema?
liquid or gas injected into rectum (ordered by physician)
list some organs that are solid viscera (maintain characteristic shape)
liver, spleen, pancreas, kidneys etc
whats hollow viscera? gives examples
hollow-type organs. gall bladder, small intestine, colon, bladder
would hollow or solid viscera be resonant while percussing?
hollow viscera would be resonant
where is the liver, stomach, spleen, kidneys, colon located? (anatomical location)
liver= RUQ stomach= LUQ spleen= LUQ left kidney= LUQ right kidney= RUQ colon= LLQ
what are developmental considerations for infants and children?
- abdominal wall is less muscular and therefore organs may be easier to palpate
- increased risk for dehydration because high turnover of water and electrolytes (which can cause gastrointestinal illness)
what are developmental considerations for pregnant women?
- morning sickness
- elevated levels of progesterone and relaxes all smooth muscle, which leads to decrease in gastrointestinal motility and prolongation of gastric emptying time
- due to reduced motility- more water is reabsorbed from colon and causes constipation
- skin changes such as striae (stretch marks) and linea nigra (pregnancy line on tummy)
what are developmental considerations for older adults?
- decreased estrogen levels which causes fat accumulation in suprapubic area in women
- fat deposits in men known as the “big belly”
- with further aging, adipose tissue is distributed away from face/extremities and goes into hips and abdomen
- abdominal musculature relaxes
- salvation decreases (causing dryness of mouth)
- decrease in sense of taste
- esophageal emptying is delayed
- gastric acid secretion decreases (orally administered drugs may be impaired or delayed)
- more susceptible to dehydration because ability to conserve water is reduced
