63 History and examination of the abdomen

Abdominal pain Pain is the most common of all abdominal symptoms and may be due to inflammatory ,...

Auscultation High-pitched bowel sounds are heard during the early stages - of mechanical intesti...

CLINICAL PRESENTATION OF ABDOMINAL PROBLEMS Pain, weight loss, anorexia or vomiting, jaundice, ab...

EXAMINATION OF THE ABDOMEN Abdominal examination must be preceded by a detailed general examinati...

FURTHER READING Das S, Das S. A manual on clinical surgery, 14th edn. Kolkata: Das Pub - lication...

GATHERING INFORMATION The experienced clinician will recognise the acuity and sever ity of the p...

General examination The patient must be lying flat with hips and knees extended but without causin...

Inspection of hernia sites, examination of genitalia, inspection of anal region and digital recta...

Inspection Scars, abdominal distension, visible peristalsis or abdominal masses, dilated veins, p...

INTRODUCTION Abdominal symptoms are a frequent cause for surgical consul tation. The underlying c...

Learning objectives To learn: The art and science of history-taking in a patient with • abdominal...

Obstruction Central colicky abdominal pain is a classic presentation of small bowel obstruction. ...

Obtaining a history Presenting complaint To establish the presenting complaint one should start w...

PATHOPHYSIOLOGICAL BASIS OF COMMON ABDOMINAL SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS The abdominal wall and parietal p...

Palpation Palpation should be performed in a systematic manner, check - ing all nine regions of ...

Percussion Percussion helps to distinguish distension due to bowel gas from solid masses and free...

Rupture and perforation of organs The urinary bladder, gallbladder and gastrointestinal tract are...

VALUE OF OBSERVATION AND REVIEW In the case of acute abdominal pain, there will be a subset of p...