Abdomen Abdominal Organs

Skill	Document: assessment, interventions, outcomes
Inspect	Skin, distention, scars, obesity, herniations, bruising, pulsations.
Auscultate (before palpate)	Bowel tones: hypoactive: every min; normal: every 15–20 seconds; hyperactive: about every 3 seconds.
Percuss	Dullness—solid organ such as the liver. Tympany—hollow organs such as the bowels. Resonance—air-filled organs such as the lungs. Flatness—dense tissue such as muscle and bone.
Palpate (last)	Pulsations, masses, tenderness, rigidity.

Note: Always work from area of least pain toward area of most pain.

■ Assess each abdominal quadrant (RUQ, LUQ, RLQ, LLQ).

■ When documenting assessment findings, always refer to specific abdominal quadrant related to finding.

Abdomen Abdominal Organs