Department: Topics in Progressive Care Marjaana Mehta is an adult nurse practitioner in adult medical oncology at Hackensack (N.J.) University Medical Center. Assessing your patient's abdomen can provide critical information about his internal organs. Always follow this sequence:
inspection, auscultation, percussion, and palpation. Changing the order of these assessment techniques could alter the frequency of bowel sounds and make your findings less accurate. Have your patient empty his bladder, then lie supine with a pillow under his head. Expose his abdomen from above the xiphoid process to the symphysis pubis.
SELECTED REFERENCESBickley L. Bates Guide to Physical Examination and History Taking, 10th ed. Philadelphia, Pa., Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2009. Jarvis C. Physical Examination and Health Assessment, 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa., W.B. Saunders Co., 2007. How to assess for distended abdomen?Deep palpation of the abdomen is performed by placing the flat of the hand on the abdominal wall and applying firm, steady pressure. It may be helpful to use two-handed palpation (Figure 93.2), particularly in evaluating a mass. Here the upper hand is used to exert pressure, while the lower hand is used to feel.
What to feel for when palpating abdomen?Palpation of the abdomen involves touching or feeling the abdomen with your hands and is the fourth component of the abdominal exam. The goal of palpation is to detect any tenderness, masses, or organomegaly.
Why do you palpate the abdomen?Deep palpation helps feel for certain palpable abdominal organs—especially if they are enlarged. Organs that should be palpated during the deep exam include the liver, gallbladder, and spleen.
When assessing the client's abdomen the nurse should position the client in which of the following position?The patient is initially positioned at 45 degrees for comfort, but a supine position is necessary to palpate the abdomen. Keeping a pillow under the patient's head or knees can be considered.
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