Question

When examining the anterior abdomen of a patient who complains of abdominal pain:

Select one:
a. auscultate bowel sounds for at least 5 minutes.
b. routinely palpate the least painful area(s) first.
c. you should first percuss over the four quadrants.
d. it is often necessary to administer analgesia first.

Answer 1

When examining the anterior abdomen of a patient complaining of abdominal pain, it is important to auscultate bowel sounds first, followed by palpation of the least painful area(s). Percussion over the four quadrants and administering analgesia are not the first steps.

Step-by-step explanation:

When examining the anterior abdomen of a patient who complains of abdominal pain, the first step should be to auscultate bowel sounds for at least 5 minutes. This is done by placing a stethoscope on the patient's abdomen and listening for any abnormal sounds. This can help in determining the functioning of the digestive system and identify any potential issues.

Palpation of the least painful area(s) should be done after auscultation. This allows for a more thorough examination of any abnormalities or tenderness in different areas of the abdomen.

Percussion over the four quadrants is not the first step in examining the anterior abdomen. Percussion is a technique used to assess the density and resonance of underlying structures, but it is not the initial step in diagnosing abdominal pain.

Administering analgesia is not routinely necessary when examining the anterior abdomen for abdominal pain. It may be considered if the patient's pain is severe or if it is required for comfort during the examination.