During an assessment of a patient's abdomen, frequent pulsations are noted in the epigastric region. What action by the nurse is indicated?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Frequent pulsations in the epigastric region can be a sign of an abdominal aortic aneurysm or renal artery stenosis. Therefore, auscultation for a bruit should be performed to determine if there is an underlying vascular abnormality. Documenting the findings as hyperactive bowel sounds or reviewing the patient's medical records for signs of ascites may not be relevant to the pulsations seen. Noting the time the patient last voided may be important for other abdominal assessments, but it is not specific to this finding.

During an Assessment of a Patient's Abdomen, Frequent Pulsations Are