Abdominal Palpation of a 78-Year-Old Patient Admitted from a Long-Term

Multiple Choice

Abdominal palpation of a 78-year-old patient admitted from a long-term care facility, reveals a firm ropelike mass in the left lower quadrant, and percussion of this area of the abdomen is dull.The patient states feeling "full and nauseous," has a distended abdomen, and admits that she has not had a bowel movement "for several days." The nurse recognizes that this is likely:

A) Rectal polyp
B) Fecal impaction
C) An abscess
D) Rectal prolapse