ASSESSMENT OF THE ABDOMEN
ACTIONS
1. Gather equipment (pillow/towel, tape
measure/ruler, stethoscope and pen).
2. Explain the procedure to the client.
3. Ask the client to put on a gown.
ABDOMEN
1. Inspect the skin, noting color, vascularity,
striae, scars, and lesions (wear gloves to inspect
lesions).
2. Inspect the umbilicus, noting color, location,
and contour.
3. Inspect the contour of the abdomen.
4. Inspect the symmetry of the abdomen.
5. Inspect abdominal movement, noting
respiratory movement, aortic pulsations, and or
peristaltic waves.
6. Auscultate for bowel sounds, noting intensity,
pitch, and frequency.
7. Auscultate for vascular sounds and friction
rubs.
8. Percuss the abdomen for tone.
9. Percuss the liver.
10. Percuss the spleen.
11. Perform blunt percussion on the liver and the
kidneys.
12. Perform light palpation, noting tenderness or
guarding in all quadrants.
13. Perform deep palpation, noting tenderness or
masses in all quadrants.
14. Palpate the umbilicus
15. Palpate the aorta.
16. Palpate the liver, noting consistency and
tenderness.
17. Palpate the spleen, noting consistency and
tenderness.
18. Place patient in a comfortable position.
19. After care.
20. Document and relay findings to the patient.
FINDINGS
Pillow, tape measure and stethoscope
Done
We don’t have gown
Skin is brown, no veins visible striae, scars not noted
free from lesions
Skin of umbilicus is equal to surrounding skin, is located
midline at the lateral line, and is rounded and inverted
Abdomen is slightly rounded but equally distributed
Abdomen is symmetric
Abdominal respiratory movement seen, slight pulsation
of aortic abdomen present, and peristaltic
waves are not seen
Intermittent, soft clicks and gurgles are heard rate of
5–30 per minute
Vascular sounds and friction rub over liver and spleen
not detected
Typmany detected over abdomen with dullness
detected over liver and spleen
Lower border of liver at costal margin, upper border at
6th intercostal space
Spleen is approximately 7cm wide near the 10th left rib
No tenderness or pain over liver and kidneys
Abdomen is soft and nontender, no guarding present
No tenderness or masses detected upon deep palpation
No swelling, bulges, or masses in umbilicus or
surrounding areas
Moderately strong regular pulse
Non palpable
Non palpable
Done
Done
Done