What sound is heard when percussing a distended bladder?

Appeared in: PGIMER Sangrur NO - 2023

Explanation

A distended bladder is full of urine, which is a fluid.
The principle of percussion is that striking a body part over a fluid-filled or solid structure produces a dull, thud-like sound.
This is in contrast to the tympanic or resonant sound produced over air-filled structures like the intestines or healthy lungs.
Therefore, percussing a distended bladder will elicit a dull sound.

Option B: Ronchi are coarse, low-pitched adventitious breath sounds heard on auscultation of the lungs, not a sound produced by percussion of the abdomen.
Option C: Wheezing is a high-pitched, musical sound heard on auscultation of the lungs, indicating narrowed airways. It is not a percussion sound.
Option D: This option is incorrect because a specific and correct sound, dullness, is produced when percussing a distended bladder.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Physical Assessment: Percussion of the Urinary Bladder as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Assessing for bladder distention is a critical nursing skill, especially in postoperative patients, those with spinal cord injuries, or individuals with urinary catheters, to identify urinary retention early.
Untreated urinary retention can lead to bladder damage, chronic kidney disease, and an increased risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs).
A bladder scanner is a more accurate, non-invasive tool to measure post-void residual (PVR) volume and is often used to confirm findings from a physical assessment.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key components of the question: the action ('percussing') and the target organ ('distended bladder').
Recall the basic principles of percussion. Percussion over air-filled spaces (like lungs or intestines) produces a resonant or tympanic sound. Percussion over solid organs (like the liver) or fluid-filled spaces produces a dull sound.
Recognize that a 'distended bladder' is a bladder filled with fluid (urine).
Apply the principle: percussion over a fluid-filled bladder will result in a dull sound.
Evaluate the options. 'Dullness' matches the expected finding.
Eliminate the other options by identifying them as unrelated assessment findings. 'Ronchi' and 'wheezing' are sounds heard during lung auscultation, not abdominal percussion.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Medicine Macleod Clinical Examination 15e p. 105-107

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Taylor p. 716-718

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Potter Perry 12e Part 4 p. 140-142

Practise the full PGIMER Sangrur NO - 2023

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.