Question

A client is complaining of intermittent, left, lower abdominal pain that began two days ago...implement the following interventions?

1. Determine when the client had last bowel movement
2. Position client supine with knees bent
3. Inspect abdominal contour
4. Auscultate all four abdominal quadrants

Answer 1

A thorough abdominal assessment can help diagnose potential causes of abdominal pain, considering factors like bowel movements, positioning, visual inspection, and sound auscultation in all quadrants.

Step-by-step explanation:

The client's intermittent lower abdominal pain warrants a systematic approach to assessment which includes the following steps:

1. Determine when the client had their last bowel movement to assess for constipation or bowel obstruction.
2. Position the client supine with knees bent to relax the abdominal muscles, making it easier to examine.
3. Inspect the abdominal contour for any visible bulging, asymmetry, or distention that could indicate underlying problems.
4. Auscultate all four abdominal quadrants for bowel sounds, which can provide information regarding gastrointestinal motility and function.

These interventions are part of a thorough abdominal examination that can help identify potential causes of abdominal pain, such as appendicitis, a urinary tract infection (UTI), or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), as well as postoperative complications like those experienced by Roberta after cholecystectomy or infections like gastroenteritis.