The nurse is caring for a client with an umbilical hernia who reports increased abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. The nurse notes high-pitched bowel sounds. Which conclusion does the nurse draw from these assessment findings?
a. Bowel obstruction; client should be placed on NPO status.
b. Perforation of the bowel; client needs emergency surgery.
c. Adhesions in the hernia; client needs elec-tive surgery.
d. Hernia is dangerously enlarged; client needs a nasogastric (NG) tube.
A
The client with a hernia presenting with abdominal pain, fever, tachycardia, nausea and vomiting, and hypoactive bowel sounds should be suspected of having developed strangulation. Strangulation poses a risk of intestinal obstruction. The client should be placed on NPO status, and the health care provider should be notified. The symptoms are not suggestive of enlargement of the hernia, adhesion formation, or bowel perforation.
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