A patient is admitted to the emergency department with severe abdominal pain,anorexia,and chills.His vital signs include temperature 38.3°C,pulse 130 beats/min,respiration 34 breaths/min,and blood pressure (BP)82/50 mm Hg.His pain is more intense in the left lower quadrant but radiates throughout the entire abdomen,with rebound tenderness and abdominal rigidity.The nurse plans care for the patient based on the knowledge that management of his condition initially involves which of the following actions?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The patient's vital signs indicate hypovolemia, likely due to fluid loss from an acute abdomen. Thus, the initial management of this patient involves IV fluid resuscitation to restore hemodynamic stability. Exploratory laparotomy may be necessary depending on the underlying cause of the acute abdomen, but this decision would be made based on diagnostic testing and evaluation. Administration of IV antibiotics may be necessary if an infection is identified as the cause, but again, this would be based on diagnostic testing. Diagnostic testing with barium studies and endoscopy may be diagnostic tools, but they are not the initial management of this patient's acute abdomen.

A Patient Is Admitted to the Emergency Department with Severe