Surgery Definition – How to assess the abdomen in secondary survey?
Surgery Definition – How to assess the abdomen in secondary survey?
Abdominal assessment may focus on inspection and palpation. Inspection may focus on the full exposure of the abdomen and the back as well as the perineum. Observe for any signs of distention or fullness and any penetrating object should not be removed from the body blindly. Document any evidence of penetrating or blunt trauma.
Palpation may focus on the feeling for any tenderness, rebound tenderness, guarding or masses in the quadrant of the abdomen. Rectal examination may be considered for any signs of rectal injury which manifest in the form of loss of integrity of the wall and blood in the rectum. Vaginal examination is only considered to identify any fracture of the pelvic and confirm the stability and integrity of the wall of the vagina.
Nasogastric tube is passed to decompress the stomach and to aspirate the gastric contents to limit risk of aspiration. Any aspiration of blood is a good indicator of injury in the gastric region. Urethral catheter may be passed unless there are signs of urethral injury such as high riding prostate, bruising of the perineum and blood at the urethral meatus.
Auscultate the abdomen and listen for any bowel sounds and renal bruit or aortic bruit which is an indication of traumatic aneurysm.
Abdominal assessment may focus on inspection and palpation. Inspection may focus on the full exposure of the abdomen and the back as well as the perineum. Observe for any signs of distention or fullness and any penetrating object should not be removed from the body blindly. Document any evidence of penetrating or blunt trauma.
Palpation may focus on the feeling for any tenderness, rebound tenderness, guarding or masses in the quadrant of the abdomen. Rectal examination may be considered for any signs of rectal injury which manifest in the form of loss of integrity of the wall and blood in the rectum. Vaginal examination is only considered to identify any fracture of the pelvic and confirm the stability and integrity of the wall of the vagina.
Nasogastric tube is passed to decompress the stomach and to aspirate the gastric contents to limit risk of aspiration. Any aspiration of blood is a good indicator of injury in the gastric region. Urethral catheter may be passed unless there are signs of urethral injury such as high riding prostate, bruising of the perineum and blood at the urethral meatus.
Auscultate the abdomen and listen for any bowel sounds and renal bruit or aortic bruit which is an indication of traumatic aneurysm.
