A nurse is performing an abdominal ultrasound for a client who is at 28 weeks of gestation.
The nurse should instruct the client to do which of the following before the procedure?
Drink several glasses of water.
Empty her bladder completely.
Lie on her right side
Fast for at least 4 hours.
The Correct Answer is A
The woman should drink several glasses of water before the abdominal ultrasound procedure.
This is because a full bladder helps to push the intestines away and improve the visibility of the uterus and the fetus.
Drinking water also helps to avoid gas buildup in the abdomen, which could interfere with the sound waves.
Choice B is wrong because emptying the bladder would make it harder to see the uterus and the fetus.
Choice C is wrong because lying on the right side would not affect the quality of the ultrasound image.
Choice D is wrong because fasting is not necessary for an abdominal ultrasound, unless instructed by the doctor for a specific reason.
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Correct Answer is C
Explanation
The patient should wear loose-fitting clothing and lie supine on an examination table.
This is because loose-fitting clothing allows easy access to the abdomen and lying supine helps relax the abdominal muscles.
The patient should also avoid food and drinks for 8 to 12 hours before the test, as undigested food can interfere with the sound waves and affect the image quality.
Choice A is wrong because a full bladder is not necessary for an abdominal ultrasound, unless the patient is pregnant or has a pelvic condition.
A transvaginal ultrasound is a different type of ultrasound that uses a probe inserted into the vagina to examine the reproductive organs.
Choice B is wrong because tight-fitting clothing can restrict the movement of the ultrasound probe and make it harder to get a clear image.
Lying prone (on the stomach) can also tense up the abdominal muscles and obscure the organs.
Choice D is wrong because lying prone can have the same disadvantages as choice B. Additionally, wearing loose-fitting clothing does not mean that the patient can eat or drink anything before the test, as this can affect the results.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
This is because a nuchal translucency ultrasound measures the amount of fluid behind the baby’s neck in the first trimester of pregnancy, which can indicate the risk of having a chromosomal condition like Down syndrome.
Some possible explanations for the other choices are:
Choice A is wrong because fetal growth and development are not directly related to the nuchal translucency measurement.
Fetal growth and development are assessed by other parameters such as crown-rump length, biparietal diameter, abdominal circumference, etc.
Choice B is wrong because blood flow in the umbilical cord is not measured by the nuchal translucency ultrasound.
Blood flow in the umbilical cord is assessed by Doppler ultrasound, which evaluates the resistance and velocity of blood flow in the umbilical artery and vein.
Choice D is wrong because structural abnormalities in the baby’s organs are not detected by the nuchal translucency ultrasound.
Structural abnormalities in the baby’s organs are diagnosed by a detailed anatomy scan, which is usually performed in the second trimester of pregnancy.
The normal range for nuchal translucency is between 1 mm and 3 mm.
A measurement above 3 mm is considered increased and may indicate a higher risk of chromosomal or genetic conditions.
However, a nuchal translucency ultrasound is a screening test and not a diagnostic test, so it does not confirm or rule out any condition.
It only provides a probability based on statistical calculations.
Therefore, further testing may be recommended if the nuchal translucency measurement is increased or if other risk factors are present.
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