Nrnp 6540 Week 7 Actual Exam Rated A|2023 Updated
2. Your 82-year-old patient comes to the clinic with complaints of cramping abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and obstipation for the past 4 days. His PMH includes hernia repair, HTN, and atrial fibrillation. Your examination leads you to suspect a small bowel obstruction. What is your diagnostic test of choice to determine the diagnosis? The initial diagnostic test for small bowel obstruction is the plain abdominal x-ray with flat and upright views. This radiologic test identifies multiple air-fluids, distention of small bowel loops and absence of gas in the areas of the colon. If no obstructions are seen in the x-rays but the provider has a high suspicion of the diagnosis, a CT scan is recommended. CT scan is found to be as high as 90% sensitive in identifying the presence of bowel strangulation and can determine the etiology and site of the obstruction. Ultrasonography is often utilized to evaluate acute abdominal pain and can also be used to identify obstruction and what caused it.
Document information
- Uploaded on
- November 22, 2023
- Number of pages
- 5
- Written in
- 2023/2024
- Type
- Exam (elaborations)
- Contains
- Questions & answers
