What it means
In the abdomen, guarding means the belly muscles tense when the nurse presses, either on purpose (voluntary) or as a reflex the client cannot stop (involuntary). Involuntary guarding with a rigid, board-like belly suggests inflammation of the lining of the abdomen (peritonitis). More generally, a client may guard a painful area by holding it, keeping it still or pulling away.
For the nurse
Guarding is also a nonverbal sign of pain in clients who cannot rate it. Report new abdominal rigidity right away.
At a glance
| Spanish | defensa abdominal |
|---|---|
| Also written | abdominal guarding |
Related terms
tenderness
Pain or discomfort that is felt when an area of the body is pressed or touched.
nonverbal
Without words: communicated through facial expression, body language, touch, tone of voice or silence.
appendicitis
Inflammation of the appendix, the small pouch that hangs from the start of the large intestine.
abdomen
The part of the trunk between the chest and the pelvis, holding the stomach, intestines, liver and other organs.