North Carolina EMT State Practice Exam

When assessing abdominal pain, which area should you check last?

1. The area with the least pain

2. The area with most pain

3. The area suspected of injury

4. The area farthest from the midline

The correct answer is: The area with most pain

When assessing abdominal pain, the area with the most pain should be checked last because this approach helps to minimize the risk of further discomfort or potential complications for the patient. In medical practice, especially during physical examinations, examining areas of high pain first can lead to increased distress or an involuntary reaction from the patient, which may complicate the assessment. By waiting to assess the most painful area, you allow for a more thorough examination of surrounding regions, which can provide valuable information regarding the nature and extent of the pathology while reducing the likelihood of causing undue pain or discomfort at the outset. Additionally, it helps in understanding how the pain radiates or affects other regions, which may assist in formulating a correct diagnosis and treatment plan. This technique is consistent with a common practice in healthcare, where the priority is to ensure patient comfort and gather as much informative data as possible before triggering pain responses that could skew the examination results.