Question

The nurse is auscultating the abdomen of a client for vascular sounds with the bell of the stethoscope. The nurse hears a soft, continuous humming sound. Based on this data, the nurse suspects dysfunction with which organ?

1) Stomach
2) Spleen
3) Pancreas
4) Liver

Answer 1

A soft, continuous humming sound heard while auscultating the abdomen suggests vascular dysfunction, commonly associated with the liver.

Step-by-step explanation:

When the nurse is auscultating the abdomen of a client for vascular sounds with the bell of a stethoscope, and hears a soft, continuous humming sound, this may indicate a condition known as a bruit, which is often associated with turbulence in blood flow. The organs in the abdomen that are commonly auscultated for such sounds include the aorta, renal arteries, iliac, and femoral arteries, related to the blood supply to various organs. However, the presence of a bruit in the vicinity of one of these arteries could suggest possible vascular issues related to the organs they supply. In the context of the options given, the organ most commonly associated with such vascular sounds would be the liver, as it has a significant blood supply and is often evaluated for signs of vascular dysfunction. Therefore, based on the information provided, the nurse suspects dysfunction with the liver (option 4) when a soft, continuous humming sound is heard.