Table of Contents
How do I document ascites?
Assessing for fluid wave: With your free hand, firmly tap his left flank. If ascites is present, the tap will transmit an impulse through the fluid, which you’ll feel with your palm on his right flank. Document whether you noted shifting dullness or fluid wave.
How do you assess a patient with ascites?
- Assessment for Ascites. Physicians should be familiar with the signs of ascites and physical examination maneuvers that can be used to detect ascites.
- Signs of Ascites. • Increase in abdominal girth and weight gain.
- Fluid Wave Test. • Patient lies supine.
- Shifting Dullness Test. • Patient lies supine.
What is present in a patient with ascites?
Ascites results from high pressure in the blood vessels of the liver (portal hypertension) and low levels of a protein called albumin.
How do you explain an abdominal exam?
The abdominal examination consists of four basic components: inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation. It is important to begin with the general examination of the abdomen with the patient in a completely supine position. The presence of any of the following signs may indicate specific disorders.
Which nursing assessment is important in a patient with ascites?
Nurses to monitor body weight, abdominal girth, prevent deep vein thrombosis, encourage ambulation and educate the patient and family about the importance of a low sodium diet. Internist to monitor coagulation parameters and general health of the patient.
Which test should a nurse perform on a client with ascites?
Ascites can be detected on physical examination through a technique known as percussion. The patient is asked to lie flat on their back – if this can be tolerated – and the health professional taps the abdomen with their fingers (Fig 1).
What is diagnosis of ascites?
The diagnosis of ascites is suspected based on the patient history and physical examination, and usually confirmed by abdominal ultrasound. The cause of ascites is identified based on the history, physical examination, laboratory tests, abdominal imaging, and ascitic fluid analysis.
What are the complications of ascites?
Complications of ascites pleural effusion, or “water on the lung,” which can lead to difficulty breathing. hernias, such as inguinal hernias. bacterial infections, such as spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) hepatorenal syndrome, a rare type of progressive kidney failure.
What is the order of nursing assessment?
The order for a regular assessment is Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, and then Auscultation. If it is an abdominal assessment, Auscultation is completed after inspection.
What is the correct order of abdominal assessment?
With abdominal assessment, you inspect first, then auscultate, percuss, and palpate. This order is different from the rest of the body systems, for which you inspect, then percuss, palpate, and auscultate.
Which assessments are important in a client diagnosed with ascites?
Abdominal ultrasound is useful in confirming the presence of ascites and in the guidance of paracentesis. Both ultrasound and CT imaging are useful in distinguishing between causes of portal and nonportal hypertensive ascites. Doppler ultrasound and CT can detect Budd-Chiari syndrome.
What are nursing management of ascites?
What is the nursing diagnosis related to ascites?
Ascites is the medical term to describe the accumulation of fluid in the abdomen. Ascites is often associated with severe liver disease, but its causes may vary. Ascites usually presents with marked swelling of the patients’ abdomen, increased abdominal girth and sudden weight gain.