Bowel Sounds
Overview
- Auscultate the abdomen for bowel sounds. First listen in one quadrant and if an abnormality is discovered then listen in each of the three other quadrants.
- In order to be sure that bowel sounds are absent, it is important to listen for at least five minutes.
Interpretation
- Gurgling sounds: movement of gas and fluid via peristalsis
- Borborygmi: loud rumbling sounds due to movement of air within the gut
- Hypoactive: diminished or absent bowel sounds
- Hyperactive: extremely increased bowel sounds
- Hollow, high pitched tinkles: similar to rain on a tin roof, due to liquid and gas under pressure within dilated gut
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