A 42-year-old female is crying and she states that she has sharp abdominal pain that she localizes to her right lower quadrant. When assessing the patient's abdomen, the EMT would:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Starting palpation in the left upper quadrant (LUQ) is a standard approach to avoid causing immediate discomfort or pain in a patient who is presenting with symptoms suggestive of acute abdominal issues, such as appendicitis, which typically presents with pain in the right lower quadrant (RLQ). This method allows the healthcare provider to gradually approach the area of greatest discomfort, thereby minimizing patient discomfort and potentially eliciting a more accurate assessment of the abdominal pain's nature and location.

A 42-Year-Old Female Is Crying and She States That She