Question

A client has a history of multiple abdominal surgeries from a gunshot wound 3 years ago. the client is currently reporting severe abdominal pain. auscultation reveals high-pitched, rushing sounds. these sounds could be a sign of what condition?

Answer 1

With a prior history of gunshot wounds in the abdomen S/P multiple abdominal surgeries; the most common complication from this is the formation of adhesions. The formation of adhesions precipitate obstruction of the bowel from partial gut obstruction to complete gut obstruction. The high-pithed, rushing sounds upon auscultation are called borborygmi and this is a hallmark of gut obstruction. This is the sound as the bowels become hyperactive to relieve the obstruction. Eventually, the bowels will become hypoactive.