Why Auscultate Bowel Sounds?

Auscultation of the abdomen is performed for detection of altered bowel sounds, rubs, or vascular bruits. Normal peristalsis creates bowel sounds that may be altered or absent by disease. Irritation of serosal surfaces may produce a sound (rub) as an organ moves against the serosal surface.

Why do we assess bowel sounds?

Auscultating bowel sounds can allow you to pinpoint areas where an obstruction may have occurred. Finding no bowel sounds can mean an ileus or obstruction above that area of the intestine.

Why is Auscultating bowel sounds important?

Not surprisingly, therefore, auscultation for bowel sounds is considered an essential part of the assessment of the acute abdomen and it remains common practice to listen to bowel sounds as a determinant of the presence or absence of gut function.