A patient has a pulsatile mass in the abdomen. Which of the following physical exam assessments is CONTRAINDICATED or could cause harm to the patient who has a AAA or abdominal aortic aneurysm?

Question

Group of answer choices

Monitor level of consciousness and blood pressure

Auscultation of the abdomen for bowel motility

Auscultation of the abdomen for bruit

Deep palpation of the abdomen

Answer 1

In the case of a patient with a suspected abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), deep palpation of the abdomen is CONTRAINDICATED or could cause harm.

Deep palpation could potentially rupture the aneurysm, leading to severe complications such as massive internal bleeding. The other assessments listed, such as monitoring level of consciousness and blood pressure, and auscultation of the abdomen for bowel motility and for bruit, are non-invasive and do not carry the same risk.