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Health Assessment > Week 8 - Abdominal Assessment > Flashcards

Week 8 - Abdominal Assessment Flashcards

1
Q

Solid Viscera

A

Organs that maintain characteristic shape

Palpable

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2
Q

Hollow Viscera

A

Shape depends on the contents

Not usually palpable

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3
Q

Examples of Solid Viscera (7)

A 
Liver
Pancreas
Spleen
Adrenal glands
Ovaries
Uterus
Aorta
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4
Q

Examples of Hollow Viscera (5)

A 
Stomach
Gallbladder
Small intestine
Colon
Badder
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5
Q

Considerations for Infants and Children (4)

A
  1. Larger liver: can be palpable lower than right costal margin
  2. Bladder is higher, found closer to the umbilicus
  3. Abdominal wall is less muscular, easier to palpate
  4. Increased risk for GI illness
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6
Q

Considerations for Pregnancy (5)

A
  1. Nausea/vomiting
  2. Acid indigestion: elevated levels of progesterone relax smooth muscle which slows motility, also pressure from growing fetus
  3. Constipation (also because of reduced motility)
  4. Diminished bowel sounds: the uterus pushes intestines up and back
  5. Skin changes on the abdomen
    - Striae
    - Linea nigra
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7
Q

Considerations for Older Adults (7)

A
  1. Adipose tissue redistribution to abdomen and hips
  2. Abdominal muscle relaxation
  3. Decreased salivation (dry mouth)
  4. Decreased gastric acid secretion (absorption of oral medication is delayed)
  5. Liver size decreased
  6. Decreased renal functioning (risk of increased toxicity of meds)
  7. Increased incidence of gallstones and colorectal cancer
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8
Q

Components of Subjective Assessment (10)

A
  1. Appetite
  2. Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
  3. Food intolerance
  4. Abdominal pain
  5. Nausea/Vomiting
  6. Bowel habits
  7. Past abdominal history
  8. Medications
  9. Alcohol and Tobacco use
  10. Nutritional assessment (24-hr recall)
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9
Q

Components of Objective Assessment

A

IAPP (auscultation is first because palpation can promote peristalsis = skewed findings)

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10
Q

Inspection of abdomen (7)

A
  1. Contour: flat, scaphoid, rounded, protuberant
  2. Symmetry
  3. Umbilicus
  4. Skin
  5. Pulsations or movement
  6. Hair distribution
  7. Demeanor
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11
Q

Auscultation of abdomen

A

Bowel sounds (air and fluid through intestine)

Vascular sounds - listen for bruits (turbulent blood flow)

  • Aorta
  • Renal arteries
  • Iliac arteries
  • Femoral arteries
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12
Q

Types of bowel sounds

A
  1. Hypoactive (diminished, decreased motility)
  2. Hyperactive (increased, increased motility)
    e. g., Borborygmus (tummy growl)
  3. Absent
    e. g., Paralytic ilieus (nothing moving in intestines)
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13
Q

Borborygmus

A

Hyperactive bowel sound, tummy growl

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14
Q

Percussion finding of the stomach

A

General tympany

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15
Q

Special percussion tests

A

Hepatomegaly
Splenomegaly
Inflammation of the Kidney
Costovertebral Angle Tenderness

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16
Q

Hepatomegaly percussion tests

A

Liver span test

Scratch test

17
Q

Splenomegaly percussion tests

A

Splenic Dullness

18
Q

Light Palpations

A

Depress in 1cm

Forming an overall impression

19
Q

Deep Palpations

A
  • Depress in 5-8cm
  • Use one hand or two
  • Noting location, size, consistency, mobility or organs/masses, enlargement of organs, tenderness
20
Q

Bloomberg’s Sign

A

Tests for appendicitis
Push on location of appendix, remove hand quickly
If pain = positive for appendicitiy

21
Q

Iliopsoas muscle test

A

Lift pt leg up, we try to push down, pain = positive

22
Q

Murphy’s sign

A

Push down on liver margin
Take deep breath
If it’s in pain, then gallbladder is inflamed

23
Q

Ascites

A

Excess fluid in periteal cavity

Fluid wave

24
Q

Visceral Pain

A

Pain from visceral organ, over distended or stretched, hard to find or localize… “all over”, annoying, burning, cramping

25
Q

Parietal Pain

A

Originates in parietal peritoneum (sharp, steady pain) and right over the organ.

Aggravated with movement and coughing.

Guarding of abdomen.

26
Q

Referred Pain

A

Radiating pain at another structure innervated at same spinal level as the inflamed organ.

Abdomen is often the site of referred pain from other structures.

27
Q

Hematemesis

A

Blood in emesis

Looks like blood or coffee grounds

28
Q

Melena stool

A

Tarry stool

Signals upper GI bleed

29
Q

Frank blood

A

red blood, lower GI bleed

30
Q

Hernia

A

protrusion of abdominal visceral through abdominal wall

31
Q

Three types of hernias

A
  • Umbilical hernia
  • Incisional hernia
  • Inguinal hernia

Health Assessment (8 decks)

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