Abdominal Examination

Adapted from a gastroenterologist for Project Avicenna 2013

General principles of exam

Abdominal Examination

The History and Physical in Perspective

70% of diagnoses can be made based on history alone. 90% of diagnoses can be made based on history and physical exam. Expensive tests often confirm what is found during the history and physical.

Equipment for physical examination

Required
Stethoscope Tongue blades Penlight Tape measure Sphygmomanometer Reflex hammer Safety pins

Optional
Gloves Gauze pads Lubricant gel Nasal speculum Turning fork: 128 Hz,512Hz Pocket visual acuity card Oto-ophthalmoscope

Important aspects of physical examination----physician

Elegant appearance Decent manner Kind attitude Highly responsibility Good medical morals

Important aspects of physical examination---physician

Wash your hands, preferably while the patient is watching Washing with soap and water is an effective way to reduce the transmission of disease

How to perform the physical examination?

Exposing only the area that are being examined Offer a chaperone for both sexes. Explain what you're going to do Sequential

Important aspects of physical examination

The examiner should continue speaking to the patient Showing care to his disease and answer to patients questions It can not only release patients nerviness, but also help to establish the good physicianpatient relationship

Gloves should be worn when..

Examining any individual with exudative lesions or weeping dermatitis When handling blood-soiled or body fluid-soiled sheets or clothing

General principles of exam

Good light Relaxed patient Full exposure of abdomen

General principles of exam

Have the patient empty their bladder before examination Have the patient lie in a comfortable, flat, supine position Have them keep their arms at their sides or folded on the chest

General principles of exam

Before the exam, ask the patient to identify painful areas so that you can examine those areas last During the exam pay attention to their facial expression to assess for sign of discomfort

General principles of exam

Use warm hand, warm stethoscope, and have short finger nails Approach the patient slowly and deliberately explaining what you will be doing

General principles of exam

Stand right side of the

bed Exam with right hand Head just a little elevated Ask the patient to keep the mouth partially open and breathe gently

General principles of exam

If muscles remain tense, patient may be asked to rest feet on table with hips and knees flexed

Other helpful points on examination

Take a spare bed sheet and drape it over their lower body such that it just covers the upper edge of their underwear

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 patients face for discomfort.

Think Anatomically

Think Anatomically
When looking, listening, feeling and percussing imagine what organs live in the area that you are examining.

Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ)

liver, gallbladder, duodenum, right kidney and hepatic flexure of colon

Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ)

Cecum, appendix (in case of female, right ovary & tube)

Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ) Sigmoid colon (in case of female, left ovary & tube)

Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ)

Stomach, spleen, left kidney, pancreas (tail), splenic flexure of colon

Epigastric Area
Stomach, pancreas (head and body), aorta

Landmarks of the abdominal wall,

Costal margin, umbilicus, iliac crest, anterior superior iliac spine, symphysis pubis, pubic tubercle, inguinal ligament, rectus abdominis muscle, xiphoid process.

Physical Examination of the Abdomen

Inspection Auscultation Percussion Palpation Special Tests

Inspection
Abdominal examination

Appearance of the abdomen

Is Aortic pulsation? Is it flat or Scaphoid (Normally)? Distended? If enlarged, does this appear symmetric? With bulging or moving?

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

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.

Appearance of the abdomen

Global abdominal enlargement is usually caused by air, fluid, or fat.

Appearance of the abdomen

Localized enlargement probably distend GB space occupying lesion, hepatomegaly.

An aortic aneurysm
Palpable mass Patient feeling of pulsation On rare occasions, a lump can be visible.

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.

Appearance of the abdomen (Skin)

Abnormal venous patterns Abnormal

discoloration Umbilicus is sunken

Striae
Stretch marks are a light silver hue. Pregnancy and obese individuals Cushings syndrome (more purple or pink).

Appearance of the abdomen (Skin)

Tattoos
Scars can be drawn on schematic diagrams of the abdomen (a picture is worth a thousand words).

Cullens sign
Ecchymosis periumbilically. (intraperitoneal hemorrhage ruptured ectopic pregnancy, hemorrhagic pancreatitis..)

Grey-Turners sign
Ecchymosis of flanks. (retroperitoneal hemorrhage such as hemorrhagic pancreatitis)

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Upward flow direction indicates IVC obstruction

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Outward flow pattern from umbilicus in all directions ? Portal HTN

Evaluate venous return states

Place index finger side by side over a vein and press laterally, milking vein. Release one finger and time refill, repeat with other finger. Venous return is in direction of faster filling.

Appearance of the abdomen

Areas which become more pronounced when the patient valsalvas are often associated with ventral

hernias

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.

Visible gastric Peristalsis

Gastric peristalsis is commonly seen in neonates with congenital hypertrophic pyloric stenosis

Visible intestinal Peristalsis

Intestinal peristalsis in partial and chronic intestinal obstruction Colonic obstruction is usually not manifest as visible peristalsis

Appearance of the abdomen Patient's movement

Patients with kidney stones will frequently writhe on the examination table, unable to find a

comfortable
position

Appearance of the abdomen Patient's movement

Patients with peritonitis prefer to lie very still as any motion causes further peritoneal irritation and pain.

Auscultation
Abdominal examination

Auscultation Bowel sounds Vascular sounds (bruits) Friction Rubs

Auscultation for bowel sounds

It is performed before percussion or palpation

Auscultation for bowel sounds

Normal sounds are due to peristaltic

activity.
Peristalsis: A pregressice wavelike movement that occurs involuntarily in hollow tubes of the body.

Auscultation for bowel sounds

Compared to the cardiac and pulmonary exams, auscultation of the abdomen has a relatively minor role.

Auscultation for bowel sounds

Bowel sounds lend supporting information to other findings but are not

pathognomonic
for any particular process.

Auscultation
1.Diaphragm of stethoscope used 2.Skin depressed to approximately 1 cm

Auscultation
3.Listening in one spot is usually sufficient 4.Listening for 15-20 or 30-60 seconds
5.Bowel sounds cannot be said to be absent unless they are not heard after listening for 3-5 minutes.

Three things about bowel sound

Are bowel sounds present? If present, are they frequent or sparse (i.e.quantity)? What is the nature of the sounds (i.e.quality)?

Bowel sound decrease

Inflammatory processes of the serosa After abdominal surgery In response to narcotic analgesics or anesthesia.

Auscultation for bowel sounds

Inflammation of the intestinal mucosa will cause hyperactive bowel sounds.

Auscultation for bowel sounds

Processes which lead to intestinal obstruction initially cause frequent bowel sounds, referred to as "rushes."

Auscultation for bowel sounds

Processes which lead to intestinal obstruction initially cause frequent bowel sounds, referred to as "rushes."

Auscultation for bowel sounds

Rushes" means as the intestines trying to force their contents through a tight opening.

Auscultation for bowel sounds

Rushes" is followed by decreased sound, called "tinkles," and then silence.

Auscultation for bowel sounds

After silence the appearance of bowel sounds marks the return of intestinal sounds activity, an important phase of the patient's recovery.

Splash Sign
Splashing sound indicative of air or fluid in body cavity with shaking individual: normal in s stomach.

Auscultation for bowel sounds

Bowel sounds, then, must be interpreted within the context of the particular clinical situation.

Bruits
Bruits confined to systole do not necessarily indicate disease.

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)

Auscultation for vascular sounds (bruits)

Presence of a bruit on the renal artery would lend supporting evidence for the existence of renal artery stenosis.

Auscultation for vascular sounds (bruits)

When listening for bruits, you will need to press down quite firmly as the renal arteries are retroperitoneal structures.

Venous Hum (rare)

Epigastric/umbilical area. Soft humming noises in systolic/diastolic component. Indicates collateral between portal and venous systems as in hepatic cirrhosis.

Rubs Rubs-Rubs
Liver Spleen Cardiac Pulmonary

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).

Percussion
Abdominal examination

Percussion
Technique Liver Spleen

Percussion (technique)
DIP joint of third finger (pleximeter) pressed firmly on the abdomen remainder of hand not touching the abdomen

Percussion (technique)
Striking hand should move only at the wrist, with only little more than force of gravity

Percussion (technique)
Middle finger of striking hand (plexor) should knock the pleximeter firmly, with a strong note

There are two basic sounds with Percussion

Tympanitic (drum-like) sounds produced by percussing over air filled structures.

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.

Examination of Liver (Percussion)

Midclavicular line is noted Second intercostal space is noted

The two solid organs are percussable in the normal patient

Liver: will be entirely covered by the ribs. Occasionally, an edge may protrude 1-2 centimeter below the costal margin. Spleen: The spleen is smaller and is entirely protected by the ribs.

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.

To determine the size of the liver

Start just below the right breast in a line with the middle of the clavicle. Percussion in this area should produce a relatively resonant note.

To determine the size of the liver

Move your hand down a few centimeters than you will be over the liver, which will produce a duller sounding tone.

To determine the size of the liver

Continue downward until the sound changes once again. At this point, you will have reached the inferior margin of the liver.

Examination of Liver (Percussion)

Upper margin is noted by first dull percussion note Lower margin is noted by first tympanitic note

To determine the size of the liver

The resonant tone produced by percussion over the anterior chest wall will be somewhat less drum like then that generated over the intestines. While they are both caused by tapping over air filled structures, the ribs and pectoralis muscle tend to dampen the sound.

Examination of Spleen (Percussion)

Percussion at Castells Spot Castells Spot identified Left anterior axillary line identified Left lower costal margin identified Percussion at Castells Spot while patient inhales and exhales deeply

Dull tone indicates possible

Spleen percussion
Enlarged spleen produce a dull tone, in the left upper quadrant percussion but should then be verified by palpation.

Palpation
Abdominal examination

Abdominal Palpation Technique Light Deep Liver edge

Spleen tip Kidneys Aorta Masses

Abdominal palpation
To palpate four quadrants superficially from LLQ
counterclockwise

Light Palpation

Light Palpation
First warm your hands by rubbing them together before placing them on the patient. Abdominal wall depressed approximately 1 cm

Abdominal palpation
Use pads of three fingers of one hand and a light, gentle, dipping maneuver to examine abdomen

Palpation (light)
Any areas of pain or tenderness are reserved for evaluation at the end of the exam

Light Palpation
Mostly looking for areas of tenderness Tenderness is a physical exam finding a reflex occurs (muscle splinting, wide eyes, moaning, teeth gritting).

Palpation Light palpation assesses

Muscle tone Cutaneous hypersensitivity (suggests peritoneal irritation)

Palpation Light palpation assesses

Presence of superficial (intramural) masses is more prominent if patient raises their head ,Intra-abdominal mass is less prominent if patient raises their head

Deep Palpation

Palpation (deep)
Entire palm Either one- or two handed technique is acceptable

Deep Palpation
Use palmar surface of fingers of one hand (greatest number of fingers) and a deep, firm, gentle maneuver to examine abdomen

Palpation
Palpate deeply with finger pads (do not dig in with finger tips)

Deep Palpation
Palpate tender areas last Try to identify abdominal masses or areas of deep tenderness

Two handed technique

When deep palpation is difficult, examiner may want to use left hand placed over right hand to help exert pressure

Palpation (deep)
Push as deeply as patient will allow without significant discomfort

Normal structure that may be palpable

Sigmoid colon Liver Kidney Abdominal aorta Iliac artery

Distended bladder Gravid and nongravid uterus Xyphoid process spleen

Abdominal mass
Intra abdominal masses or enlargements of the liver, gallbladder or spleen Abdominal wall mass

Intra abdominal masses or enlargements of the liver, gallbladder or spleen

They will shift down with inspiration and back with expiration. (not true of masses within the abdominal wall or retroperitoneal structures).

Aabdominal wall mass

It will become more evident and palpable when patient flexes neck as this contracts rectus muscles.

Paraumbilical node

Abdominal pain and Tenderness

Type of abdominal pain Visceral pain Somatic pain

Visceral pain
This is pain that arises from an organic lesion or functional disturbance within an abdominal viscus (dull, poorly localized, and difficult for the patient to characterize).

Somatic pain
Painful lesion of the skin Sharp, bright, and well localized Indicates involvement of parietal peritoneum or the abdominal wall itself

Tenderness
If there is tenderness determine the point of maximum tenderness and its distribution

Abdominal muscle spasm

Voluntary guarding Tensing abdominal muscles due to patient anxiety, ticklishness, or toprevent palpation to a painful area Involuntary guarding Muscular spasm or rigidity due to peritoneal inflammation May be localized (early appendicitis )or diffuse (perforated bowel)

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.

Differential diagnosis of abdominal pain

Spine pain Abdominal wall pain( differentiated by having the patient tense his abdominal muscles, by forcefully elevating his head while keeping his shoulders flat on the table)

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Liver palpation

Liver palpation (Standard Method)

Start in the RUQ,10 centimeters below the rib margin in the midclavicular line Place left hand posteriorly parallel to and supporting 11th & 12th ribs on right.

Standard Method Liver palpation

Ask the patient to take a deep breath. You may feel the edge of the liver press against your fingers.

Liver palpation (Standard Method)

Palpating hand is held steady while patient inhales

Liver palpation (Standard Method)

Palpating hand is lifted and moved while the patient breathes out

Liver palpation
Another method of palpating the liver uses the radial border of the index finger. In this method the anterior hand is placed flat on the anterior abdominal wall with fingers parallel to the costal margin

Alternate Method Liver palpation

Is useful when the patient is obese or when the examiner is small compared to the patient.

Alternate Method Liver palpation

Stand by the patient's chest. "Hook" your fingers just below the costal margin and press firmly.

Hepatomegaly
More than 1cm below the costal margin An exception is a congenitally large right lobe of the liver Severe, chronic emphysema

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Pulsation transmitted from aorta Tricuspid valve insufficiency

Hepatojugular reflux sign

If you press the liver, you will find the dilated jugular vein becomes more bulged or distended, as from the enlargement of liver passive congestion resulted from right failure.

Ballotable sign

Spleen palpation

Spleen palpation
Seldom palpable in normal adults. Causes include COPD, and deep inspiratory descent of the diaphragm.

Spleen palpation
Support lower left rib cage with left hand while patient is supine and lift anteriorly on the rib cage.

Spleen palpation
Palpate upwards toward spleen with finger tips of right hand, starting below left costal margin. Have the patient take a deep breath.

Examination of Spleen (Palpation)

Deep technique used Starting point is RLQ, proceeding to LUQ

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Kidney palpation

Kidney palpation
Place left hand posteriorly just below the right 12th rib. Lift upwards. Palpate deeply with right hand on anterior abdominal wall.

Examination of Kidney
Patient take a deep breath. Feel lower pole of kidney and try to capture it between your hands.

Examination of Kidney

Right kidney may be felt to slip between hands during exhalation

Palpation of the Aorta

Examination of Aorta

Flat palm placed over the the epigastrium to locate pulse

Examination of Aorta
Press down deeply in the midline above the umbilicus. The aortic pulsation is easily felt on most individuals.

Examination of Aorta
Hands then oriented vertically on either side of midline with distal fingers at level of pulsation; equal pressure applied until pulsation is palpated
A well defined, pulsatile mass, greater than cm across, suggests an aortic aneurysm.

Examination of Aorta

Lateral width of pulsation is determined by space between index fingers

Special exam
Abdominal examination

Special exam
Murphys Sign McBurneys Point Rovsings Sign Psoas Sign Obturator Sign
Re bound Tenderness Costovertebral tenderness Shifting Dullness Fluid wave

Murphys Sign (acute cholecystitis)

Examiners 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

McBurneys Point
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.

McBurneys Point (Common Causes)

Appendicitis Incarcerated or strangulated hernia Ovarian torsion (twisted Fallopian tube) Pelvic inflammatory disease Abdominal abscess Hepatitis Diverticular disease Meckel''s diverticulum

Rovsings Sign
Patient will experience right lower quadrant pain (in region of McBurneys Point) when left lower quadrant is palpated.

Non-Classical Appendicitis

Iliopsoas Sign Obturator Sign

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 examiners hand on thigh. If patient has an inflamed retrocecal appendix, this will produce pain.

Iliopsoas Sign
Anatomic basis for the psoas sign: inflamed appendix is in a retroperitoneal location in contact with the psoas muscle, which is stretched by this maneuver.

Obturator Sign

Internally rotate right leg at the hip with the knee at 90 degrees of flexion. Will produce pain if

Obturator Sign
Anatomic basis for the obturator sign: inflamed appendix in the pelvis is in contact with the obturator internus muscle, which is stretched by this maneuver.

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. [4]

Cost 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.

Warn the patient Patient sit up on the exam table

Shifting Dullness (For peritoneal fluid)

Percuss from anterior abdomen laterally to outline areas of dullness noted

Examination for Shifting Dullness

Patient rolled slightly toward the examined side; movement of the dull point medially is described as shifting dullness and suggests ascites

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Shifting Dullness

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Fluid wave