A nurse suspects a patient is developing a bowel obstruction a few days postoperatively. Auscultation of the abdomen finds

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The combination of high pitched and hyperactive bowel sounds in the RLQ and RUQ and hypoactive bowel sounds in the LUQ and LLQ suggests a possible bowel obstruction. This pattern of bowel sounds is often seen in the early stages of a bowel obstruction. A is incorrect because low-pitched sounds are expected in the late stages of bowel obstruction. B and D are incorrect because hypoactive bowel sounds are present in all four quads, which is less specific and does not suggest the development of a bowel obstruction.

A Nurse Suspects a Patient Is Developing a Bowel Obstruction