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A patient had abdominal surgery yesterday when auscultating his abdomen, you would expect to hear:

A.

High-pitched, tinkling sounds

B.

Normal bowel sound

C.

Hypoactive bowel sounds

D.

Hyperactive bowel sounds

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is C

A. High-pitched, tinkling sounds: These may indicate bowel obstruction, not expected immediately after surgery.
B. Normal bowel sounds: Normal bowel sounds usually return gradually after surgery, but are unlikely within the first 24 hours.
C. Hypoactive bowel sounds: It is common to hear hypoactive or diminished bowel sounds in the first 24-48 hours after abdominal surgery due to postoperative ileus.
D. Hyperactive bowel sounds: These suggest increased peristalsis and are not typical immediately after surgery.


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Related Questions

Correct Answer is {"A":{"answers":"A"},"B":{"answers":"B"}}

Explanation

Each category must have at least 1 response option selected

Finding

Normal

Abnormal

Tympany to percussion over the intestines

✅

Loose, watery stool

✅

Suprapubic tenderness

✅

A non-palpable spleen

✅

Aortic pulsation in the epigastric area

✅

Decreased bowel sounds

✅

Rationale:

Tympany to percussion over the intestines (Normal):

Tympany is expected due to the presence of gas in the intestines.

Loose, watery stool (Abnormal):

This is indicative of diarrhea, which may point to gastrointestinal upset or infection.

Suprapubic tenderness (Abnormal):

Tenderness in this area may indicate bladder infection, inflammation, or pelvic issues.

A non-palpable spleen (Normal):

The spleen is generally not palpable in healthy individuals unless it is enlarged (splenomegaly).

Aortic pulsation in the epigastric area (Normal):

Mild pulsations may be felt in thin or normal-weight individuals. However, a widened or strong pulsation could suggest an abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Decreased bowel sounds (Abnormal):

Hypoactive or absent bowel sounds may indicate decreased intestinal motility, such as in ileus or peritonitis.

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A. Shine a light across the pupil from the side: To assess the pupillary light reflex, the nurse should shine a light across the pupil from the side and observe for both direct and consensual constriction (the constriction of both pupils when one is exposed to light).

B. Follow the penlight: This tests for accommodation (focusing on near objects) rather than the pupillary light reflex.

C. Shine a penlight directly in front: This method doesn’t assess both direct and consensual constriction properly.

D. Focus on a distant object: This assesses accommodation, not the pupillary light reflex.

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