Question

A nurse is assessing a client who reports gastrointestinal distress. Which of the following findings should indicate to the nurse that the client has cholecystitis?

A: Abdominal pain triggered by spicy food
B: Abdominal pain that radiates to the right shoulder
C: Abdominal pain in the right lower quadrant
D: Abdominal pain that is continuous over several days

Answer 1

To indicate cholecystitis, a nurse should look for continuous abdominal pain over several days, often coupled with fever, nausea, vomiting, and potentially jaundice if gallstones block the bile duct, confirmed by an abdominal ultrasound.

Step-by-step explanation:

The clinical findings that should indicate to the nurse that the client has cholecystitis include persistent abdominal pain that lasts several days. Cholecystitis is the inflammation of the gallbladder, often caused by gallstones blocking the bile duct. In addition to continuous abdominal pain, other symptoms such as fever, nausea, and vomiting can be associated with this condition.

Specifically, the pain is commonly located in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen and may radiate to the back or right shoulder. Since gallstones are a common cause of cholecystitis, the presence of gallstones can be confirmed with an abdominal ultrasound, which is a non-invasive imaging test that can detect these obstructions in the bile duct. In more severe cases, jaundice can also occur due to the backup of bile into the liver and bloodstream.