3. History taking - summary
⢠Abdominal pain
⢠Dysphagia
⢠Nausea and vomiting
⢠Anorexia and unexpected weight loss
⢠Abdominal gas
⢠Abdominal distension
⢠Diarrhea
⢠Constipation
⢠Gastrointestinal bleeding
⢠Jaundice
4. Enhancing the Exam
ďł Empty bladder
ďł Patient comfort (pillows and draping)
ďł Arms at side or crossed over chest
ďł Legs semi-flexed to relax the abdomen
ďł Ask him to relax and breath quietly
ďł Ask the patient to point to any painful areas; examine last
ďł Warm hands and stethoscope
ďł Ticklish or nervous patients: slow movements, distraction, use their hands
4
5. General principles of exam
⢠If muscles remain tense, patient may be asked to rest feet
on table with hips and knees flexed
6. General principles of exam
⢠If the patient is ticklish or frightened
⢠Initially use the patients hand under yours as you palpate
⢠When patient calms then use your hands to palpate.
⢠Watch the patientâs face for discomfort.
17. ABDOMEN: Inspection
There should be
adequate
exposure of the
abdomen for
proper
inspection. The
patient should be
exposed from the
inferior chest to
the anterior iliac
spines bilaterally.
20. Symmetrical in shape
Scaphoid or flat in young patients of
normal weight
Slightly full but not distended in older age
group due to poor muscle tone or in subjects
who are mildly overweight
21. Appreciation of abdominal contours
⢠Standing at the foot of the table and looking up towards the
patient's head.
⢠Lower yourself until the anterior abdominal wall and ask the
patient to breathe normally while you are doing so.
22. Appearance of the abdomen
⢠Global abdominal enlargement is usually caused by Flatus,
fluid, fetus, full bladder, food, feaces or fat.
24. Appearance of the abdomen
⢠Localized enlargement probably distend GB space
occupying lesion, hepatomegalyâŚ.
25. An aortic aneurysm
⢠Palpable mass
⢠Patient feeling of pulsation
⢠On rare occasions, a lump can be visible.
26. An aortic aneurysm
⢠1 in 10 men over 65 may have some enlargement of the
abdominal aorta.
⢠About 1 in 100 will have a large aneurysm requiring
surgery.
27. Appearance of the abdomen
(Skin)
⢠Abnormal venous patterns
⢠Abnormal discoloration
⢠Umbilicus is sunken
28. Striae
⢠Stretch marks are a light silver hue.
⢠Pregnancy and obese individuals
⢠Cushingâs syndrome (more purple or pink).
39. Contour of the abdomen
PROTUBERANT
SCAPHOID
(newborn with diaphragmatic
hernia)
40. Visible Pulsations
⢠More conspicuous in the
thin than in the fat
⢠Greater in the old than in
the young.
⢠Increased in thyrotoxicosis,
hypertension, or aortic
regurgitation)
⢠In those with an aortic
aneurysm and tortuous
aorta
⢠In those who have a mass
joining the aorta to the
anterior abdominal wall.
41. Visible gastric Peristalsis
⢠Gastric peristalsis is
commonly seen in
neonates with
congenital hypertrophic
pyloric stenosis
⢠Intestinal peristalsis in
partial and chronic
intestinal obstruction
⢠Colonic obstruction is
usually not manifest as
visible peristalsis
Visible intestinal Peristalsis
Visible Peristalsis
44. Auscultation for bowel sounds
⢠Compared to the cardiac and pulmonary exams,
auscultation of the abdomen has a relatively minor role.
45. Auscultation
Auscultation can be
done with the
diaphragm or the bell;
most examiners use
the diaphragm. You
should listen for at
least 10-15 seconds
and note the pitch
and frequency of
bowel sounds. If you
do not hear any bowel
sounds, you should
listen for a full two
minutes before you
can state that the
patient does not have
any bowel sounds.
Bowel sounds should
occur from every
other second to every
12 seconds.
Note: During the
abdominal exam auscultation is done
before palpation
46.
47. Three things about bowel sound
Bowel sounds cannot be said to be absent unless they
are not heard after listening for 3-5 minutes.
⢠Are bowel sounds present?
⢠If present, are they frequent or sparse (i.e.quantity)?
⢠What is the nature of the sounds (i.e.quality)?
49. Auscultation for vascular sounds (bruits)
⢠Aortic (midline between umbilicus and xiphoid
⢠Renal (two inches superior to and two inches lateral to umbilicus)
⢠Common iliac (midway between umbilicus and midpoint of inguinal ligament)
50. Venous Hum (rare)
⢠Epigastric/umbilical area.
⢠Soft humming noises in systolic/diastolic component.
⢠Indicates collateral between portal and venous systems as
in hepatic cirrhosis.
52. Friction rubs (rare)
⢠Right and left upper
quandrants
⢠Grating sound with
respiratory movement
⢠Indicates inflammation
of the capsule of the
liver or spleen (infection
or infarction).
54. Abdominal Physical Exam
Percussion
ďłNotes Elicited
ďłTympanic â Hollow viscous
ďłPredominant due to gas in GI tract
ďłHyperresonant â air (lungs)
ďłDull
ďłOrgans, fluid and feces
ďłDistension of abdomen
ďłFluid vs. Air
ďłOutline Organs
ďłLiver, spleen, and gastric bubble
54
55.
56. There are two basic sounds with
Percussion
⢠Tympanitic (drum-like) sounds produced by
percussing over air filled structures.
57. There are two basic sounds with
Percussion
⢠Dull sounds that occur when a solid structure (e.g.
liver) or fluid (e.g. ascites) lies beneath the region being
examined.
58.
59. Percussion
Percussion: the left and right abdomen should be percussed
above and below the umbilicus. Most examiners will percuss 8
or more areas.
60. Percussion: Liver span
The liver span is estimated by percussion.
Remember that it is easier to hear the
change from resonance to dullness â so
proceed with percussion from areas of
resonance to areas of dullness.
Upper border: In the midclavicular line start
percussing in the chest moving down towards the
abdomen about ½ to 1 cm at a time. Note where the
percussion notes change from resonate to dull.
Lower border: In the midclavicular
line begin percussion below the
unbillicus and proceed upward until
dullness is encounter.
The distance between the
two areas where dullness is
first encountered is the liver
span.
Liver span is normally 6 to 12 cm in
the midclavicular line.
61. Liver Span: Scratch Test
Start in the same areas
above and below the
liver as you would with
percussion. Instead of
percussing lightly,
scratch moving your
finger back and forth
while listening over the
liver. Since sound is
conducted better in
solids than in air, when
the louder sounds are
heard you are over the
liver. Mark the superior
and inferior boarders of
the liver span in the
midclavicular line
62.
63. Examination of Liver (Percussion)
⢠Midclavicular line is noted
⢠Second intercostal space is noted
64.
65. To determine the size of the liver
⢠Measure the liver span
by percussing hepatic
dullness from above
(lung) and below
(bowel).
⢠A normal liver span is 6
to 12 cm in the
midclavicular line.
66.
67.
68. Physical examination
Percussion
⢠Liver span midclavicular line: 6-12 cm
midsternal line: 4-8 cm
⢠Splenic dullness
â normal: in the midaxillary line
â pathological:dullness in the ant. axillary line
during inspiration
⢠Liver or/and splenic dullness absent: perforation.
⢠Shifting Dullness
⢠Horse shoe shaped dullness
⢠Fluid thrills
74. Light Palpation
⢠Mostly looking for areas of tenderness
⢠Tenderness is a physical exam finding a reflex occurs
(muscle splinting, wide eyes, moaning, teeth gritting).
75. Abdominal muscle spasm
⢠Voluntary guarding
Tensing abdominal
muscles due to patient
anxiety, ticklishness, or
to prevent palpation to
a painful area
Involuntary guarding
⢠Muscular spasm or
rigidity due to
peritoneal inflammation
⢠May be localized (early
appendicitis )or diffuse
(perforated bowel)
76. Board-like rigidity
⢠If abdominal wall is palpated as obviously tense, even as
rigid as a board, board-like rigidity is so called.
⢠Is caused by the spasm of abdominal muscle due to
peritoneal irritation.
78. Abdominal Palpation
Palpate lightly in all 4 quadrants. Press
down around 1 cm. Remember to look
at the patientâs face during palpation
to see if any tenderness is elicited
80. Palpation: Liver
Stand on the ptâs right side. Place your left hand behind the
patientâs R side under the 11th and 12th rib area. Press upward
with the L hand.
Place your R hand on the ptâs
abdomen well below where you
percussed the liver edge
81. Palpation of Liver: Alternative Method
It is acceptable during palpation of the liver to
use both hands to palpate abdomen. You use
the fingers of one hand to palpate and the other
hand is used to apply pressure to the dorsum of
the other hand. Thus the hand you are using to
palpate does not need to be used to apply
pressure.
82. Hepatomegaly
⢠More than 1cm below the costal margin
⢠An exception is a congenitally large right lobe of the liver
⢠Severe, chronic emphysema
83. Palpation: Spleen
Palpation: Spleen
(correctly - position,
breaths, palpating
deepest full
inspiration, 1 hand
under L side, 1
feeling)
Palpation: Spleen (if
not palpable, R lateral
decubitus)
86. Palpation of Kidneys
Right kidney (take a deep
breath, capture kidney, exhale,
slowly release kidney
Left kidney (take a deep breath,
capture kidney, exhale, slowly
release kidney)
90. 137: Palpation: For abdominal
aorta
Palpation: For
abdominal aorta (to
feel both the left and
right walls of the
aorta)
In correct order:
Inspection,
auscultation,
percussion and
palpation
Abdominal
Examination was
done at 0ď°.
92. Murphyâs Sign (acute cholecystitis)
⢠Examinerâs hand is at middle inferior border of liver.
⢠Patient is asked to take deep inspiration.
⢠If positive patient will experience pain and will stop
short of full inspiration
Hepatitis, subdiaphragmatic abscess
Cholecystitis
93. McBurneyâs Point (Appendicitis)
⢠Localized tenderness
Just below midpoint of
line between right
anterior iliac crest and
umbilicus.
⢠Heel strike, riding over
bumps in road while
driving, coughing, will
produce pain.
94. Rovsingâs Sign
⢠Patient will experience
right lower quadrant
pain (in region of
McBurneyâs Point)
when left lower
quadrant is palpated.
96. Iliopsoas Sign
Patient can lay on side and extend leg at the hip or
have patient lay on back and try to flex hip against
the resistance of examinerâs hand on thigh. If patient
has an inflamed retrocecal appendix, this will
produce pain.
97. Obturator Sign
⢠Internally rotate right leg at the hip with the knee at
90 degrees of flexion. Will produce pain if inflamed
appendix is in pelvis.
98. Rebound Tenderness
(For peritoneal irritation)
⢠Warn the patient what you
are about to do.
⢠Press deeply on the
abdomen with your hand.
⢠After a moment, quickly
release pressure.
⢠If it hurts more when you
release, the patient has
rebound tenderness.
99. Costo - vertebral Tenderness
(Often with renal disease)
⢠Use the heel of your
closed fist to strike
the patient firmly over
the costovertebral
angles.
⢠Compare the left and
right sides.