You are assessing a patient who is complaining of "feeling bloated and short of breath." The patient is lying in the supine position. Your assessment findings are: inspection: skin is shiny and taut, protuberant abdomen with spider veins noted at the umbilical area; auscultation: hypoactive low-pitched bowel sounds, 10 clicks per minute; abdominal vasculature, no bruits; percussion: tympany at hypogastric and umbilical area; dull sounds on lateral dependent quadrants; palpation: firm, nontender, unable to palpate organs. What assessment should you perform next?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Testing for fluid waves is the next appropriate assessment to perform given the findings of a protuberant abdomen, shiny and taut skin, and dull sounds on percussion in the lateral dependent quadrants, which are indicative of ascites.

You Are Assessing a Patient Who Is Complaining of "Feeling