Abdominal palpation of a 78-year-old patient admitted from a long-term care facility, reveals a firm ropelike mass in the left lower quadrant, and percussion of this area of the abdomen is dull.The patient states feeling "full and nauseous," has a distended abdomen, and admits that she has not had a bowel movement "for several days." The nurse recognizes that this is likely:

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The presence of a firm, ropelike mass in the left lower quadrant, dull percussion, and reported distension and lack of bowel movements suggests fecal impaction. This can cause nausea and a feeling of fullness in the abdomen. Rectal polyps or prolapse would not typically cause such findings, and an abscess would be associated with localized pain or tenderness rather than a mass.

Abdominal Palpation of a 78-Year-Old Patient Admitted from a Long-Term