A patient with symptoms of acute pancreatitis is scheduled for an abdominal ultrasound and a CT scan.The ultrasound department is very busy,so the patient is asked to wait.What rationale would the nurse provide for not doing the CT scan first?
A)The ultrasound is the only way to assess the severity of damage to the pancreas.
B)The ultrasound can assess for gallstones as the cause of the pain.
C)Once the patient has had a CT scan,the ultrasound must be delayed for at least 72 hours.
D)The CT scan will be done only after the ultrasound has demonstrated that complications such as hemorrhage do not exist.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The ultrasound is necessary to assess the presence of gallstones as a potential cause of the patient's symptoms. CT scans can still be done after the ultrasound, and delaying it for 72 hours is not necessary. While CT scans can assess for complications such as hemorrhage, the ultrasound is needed first to determine the cause of the symptoms.

A Patient with Symptoms of Acute Pancreatitis Is Scheduled for an Abdominal