A patient reports having abdominal distention. The nurse observes that the patient's sclerae are yellow. Which abnormal finding does the nurse anticipate on examination of this patient's abdomen?
A) Decreased bowel sounds in all quadrants
B) Glistening or taut skin of the abdomen
C) Bulge in the abdomen when coughing
D) Bruit around the umbilicus

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Glistening or taut skin of the abdomen is consistent with ascites that appear as abdominal distention. Jaundice and ascites suggest liver disease. There would also be an increase in abdominal girth. Decreased bowel sounds in all quadrants may be present if the abdominal distention was from an intestinal obstruction, but the observation of jaundice suggests liver disease, which does not decrease bowel sounds. A bulge in the abdomen when coughing is a finding associated with abdominal or incisional hernias. Bruit around the umbilicus is a finding associated with an abdominal aortic aneurysm.

A Patient Reports Having Abdominal Distention