Examination of Abdomen MUDr. M. Dastych Department of Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine Masaryk University • Anamnesis - "GIT symptoms„ • Physical Examination • Additional Diagnostic Methods Anamnesis – GIT symptoms • Anorexia • Dysphagia (classical x paradoxical) • Odynophagia • Heartburn • Regurgitation • Rumination • Dyspepsia • Belching • Nauzea • Vomitus(character of vomits) • Meteorism • Borborygmi • Diarrhea • Obstipation • Jaundice • Weight loss Anamnesis – GIT symptoms Symptoms related to GIT Dysphagia , Odynophagia, Heartburn, Regurgitation, Hematemesis Feeling full, Pressure in epigastrium, Ructus, Anorexia, Nausea, Vomitus, Hematemesis, Melena Meteorismus, Borborygmus, Flatulence, Obstipation, Diarhea, Enteroragia Jaundice, Anorexia, Meteorism, Acholic Stool, Hematemesis, Melena Tenesmus, Incontinence, enterorragia Abdominal Pain • Visceral (blunt, without a distinct localization, in midline, e.g. Uncomplicated gastric ulcer) • Somatic (sharp, acute, precisely localized and associated with palpation e.g. Perforated gastric ulcer, cholecystitis) • Radiation of pain in the direction of the spread of inflammation the gallbladder under the right blade, the pancreas in the back. Phrenic sign- pain in the shoulder during the process in the subdiaphragmatic area • Colicstrong convulsive pain coming in the waves responding to the spasm of smooth muscle. Etiology - biliary, intestinal, urinary Abdominal Pain • Pain after meal (early) x fasting (late) • Dependance on food intake, type of food.Fatty food – gallbladder, proteins and fat - pankreas, milk - lactose intolerance • Relieving position gastric ulcer - lying, pancreatitis – bend forward, cholecystitis- curl up in fetal position, esophagits - upright Bleeding into the Gastrointestinal Tract • Hematemesis • Melena • Enterorrhagia Bleeding into GIT Bleeding esophagus, stomach, duodenum hematemesis Bleeding small intestine, colon melena enterorrhagia massive bleeding slow bleeding Hemoglobin is changed by HCl to black hematin occult bleeding • Anamnesis - "GIT symptoms„ • Physical Examination • Additional Diagnostic Methods Basic notes • Examination in supine position • Slightly bent knees • Arms at sides • Examination in upright position - hernias, ascites • Examination lying on side - spleen Standard Modification Surface Anatomy of Abdomen Surface Anatomy of Abdomen QuadrantsRight upper quadran Right lower quadran Left lower quadran Left upper quadran Surface Anatomy of Abdomen Regions Right Hypochondrium Right hypogastrium Right Lumbar Region Left Lumbar Region Left Hypochondrium Left hypogastrium epigastrium Suprapubical region Umbilical Region Physical Examination Inspection Palpation Percussion Auscultation Inspection of Abdomen • Level of the abdomen in relation to the chest in the supine position (in niveau, down niveau, up niveau) Inspection of Abdomen • Scars on abdomen CHCE APPE Sectio cesarea Lower midline laparotomy Upper midline laparotomy LPSK Inspection of Abdomen • Scars CHCE CHCELAPAROTOMY Inspection of Abdomen • Scars Conservative healing of laparotomy dehiscence with intestinal fistula PV 2M Final result after surgical resection of fistula Inspection of Abdomen • Striae or strech marks • Rapid growth of abdomen volume (pregnancy, obesity, Cushing´s syndrome) Inspection of Abdomen • Collateral circulation • Hepatic cirrhosis, portal vein trombosis, Budd-Chiari syndrome • Right-side heart failure (congestion in VCI), VCI trombosis Inspection of Abdomen • Prominence of abdomen • Epigastrium – stomach distension, liver tumor • Right hypochondrium – liver, gallbladder hydrops • Left hypochondrium – spleen • Hypogastrium – bladder distension Meta hepatis Inspection of Abdomen • Pigmentation and color changes Allergy symptom - urtica SuffusionCullen´s sign Addison´s disease Pigmented nevus Hematomas after s.c. injection Inspection of Abdomen • Enhancement of intestinal loops • Bowel loop with peristalsis visible through abdominal wall, asthenic people, blocked passage in intestinal obstruction • Hernias • Inguinal, umbilical, incisional • Hernia ring, reducible x unreducible, size, pain • Examination in upright position, during cough Palpation of abdomen • Most important part of examination of abdomen • Superficial palpation, deep palpation • To start palpation out of the painful area • Distracting the patient Palpation of abdomen • Palpable resistance • Locate • Size, shape, surface • Consistency – soft, semi-hard, hard, stone-like • Tenderness • Movement with respiration, pulzation Palpation of abdomen - tenderness • Physiologic finding – elastic resistency of abdominal wall, no pathological resistencies or tenderness • Sensitive strip-like resistency in left hypogastrium spastic colon descendens • Solar syndrome • Irritation of abdominal sympathetic trunk • Palpable tenderness in area of abd. aorta Palpation of abdomen - tenderness • Pathology of apendix and caecum • McBurney‘s point • Pathology of gall bladder • Physiologically gall bladder is not palpable • Murphy‘s sign • Curvoisier‘s sign Gall bladder point Palpation of abdomen - tenderness • Duodenum point • Pathology of duodenum and pancreas • Carnett‘s sign, manoeuvre • Tenderness of abdomen gets increased during palpation ( if patient asked to tense musculi recti abdominis - raise both legs with straight knees) in case underlying pathology is muscular, if it is intraabdominal or visceral in orgin, it gets decreased. Centre of connecting line between umbilicus and gall bladder point Palpation of abdomen - tenderness • Peritoneal irritation – sign of acute abdomen ! (hollow viscus perforation -HWP, covered HWP, cholecystitis, appendicitis, diverticulitis) • Défense musculaire (muscle guarding)– reflex contraction of muscles of abdominal wall with generally or locally increased tension of abdom. wall. • Pleniér‘s sign – pain is triggered by percusion of abdomen • Blumberg‘s sign – by deep palpation with consequent release of abdominal wall in the area of presumed pathology, we trigger the pain int the area of pathological process. • Rovsing‘s sign – by deep palpation in the area contralateral to the area of presumed pathological process and consequent release, we trigger the pain in the area of pathologic process. Palpation of abdomen – colon, pancreas, stomach, aorta Percussion of abdomen • Variably tympanitic percussion • Higer level of distension of hollow organ – higher pitched tone • Importance for differentiation fluid ( ascites ) from meteorism • Dullnes during percussion – liver, spleen, fluid, solid resistency • Technique of percussion – force of impact, pressure of underlying finger, directions of percussion Percussion of abdomen Dulness produced by percussion - hepar High-pitched tympanitic – distended coecum Variably tympanitic - bowel High-pitched tympanitic – distended stomach Dulness produced by percussion - splenomegaly Dulness on percussion and distension – urinary retention Percussion of abdomen - ascites • Presence of fluid in abdominal cavity • Liver cirhosis, right-sided heart failure, peritoneal carcinomatosis, gynecological tumors, hypoalbuminemia • Amount of fluid 500ml – 40l • By percussion detectable approx. 1000ml and more • Dulness above fluid is cranially concave in vertical position • Undulation ( fluid wave test ) • Examination in vertical position Dullnes produced by percussion Auscultation of abdomen • Auscultation of peristalsis noise (bowel sounds) • Frequent bowel sounds ("rushes„), metalic sounds, tinkles - bowel obstruction ( formerly mechanic ileus) • Bowel sounds infrequent or absent – ileus ( formerly paralytic ileus ) • Vascular murmurs – aortic aneurysm • Friction rub due to inflammation of hepatic or lienal capsule • Scratch test – assessment of size of the liver - Dampening of the sound means end of the liver edge Liver examination • Upper edge of the liver: - expiration: 4th rib - inhalation: 5th rib • Lower edge: – 9th rib on the right side – 8th rib on the left 9th rib • Inspection – only in skinny people, hepatomegaly • Palpation – the basic method of examination • Percussion – size of the liver, mid-clavicular line • Auscultation – complementary examination – liver scratch test, vascular sounds 5th rib • Size (during inspirium, mdc line, upper border detected by percussion, lower border by palpation, normal liver span 6-12cm) • Edge (soft, smooth X irregular, rounded, uneven) • Consistency  1st grade – soft, elastic – healthy liver  2nd grade – tougher in venostasis, inflammatory and infiltration liver diseases  3rd grade – tough, inflexible – hepatic cirrhosis  4th grade – very tough (rock) – cancer infiltration Palpation of the liver Palpation of the liver • Surface (smooth – venostasis, hepatitis X uneven – mts, macronodular cirrhosis) • Soreness (acute venostasis, infectious hepatitis) • Pulsation (serious tricuspid valve insufficiency of the heart) • Hepatojugular reflux (manual pressure  increased filling of cervical veins) Percussion of the liver • Measuring the liver size • Liver span = liver size between the upper and the lower edge • Presence of the liver below the costal margin ≠ always hepatomegaly (right pleural effusion, consolidated lung, emphysema) Riedel lobe - common anatomical variant of the liver, it can simulate a mass ! Auscultation of the liver • Hepatic rub (perihepatitis, tumour invasion of the visceral peritoneum) • Venous hum (over collaterals in portal hypertension, hemangioma) • „Scratch test“ – to determine the size of the liver (limited reliability) Symptoms of liver damage • Jaundice (icterus) • Ascites • Oedema • Malnutrition • Bleeding disorders (bruising, GIT bleeding…) • Encephalopathy (confusion, irritability, asterixis, seizures, foetor hepaticus, coma) • Dyspepsia Spleen examination • between 9 to 11th rib, 12-15cm • concealed behind the rib cage • the basic examination method - palpation • palpable spleen = enlargement • deep breath  spleen edge palpation during inspiratory phase Splenomegaly • MILD SPLENOMEGALY – infectious diseases (typhoid fever, mononucleosis) – sepsis – infectious endocarditis • MODERATE SPLENOMEGALY – lymphomas – thrombosis of portal vein – liver cirrhosis • PRONOUNCED SPLENOMEGALY – myelofibrosis, CML – thrombosis of portal vein • Anamnesis – „GIT symptoms“ • Physical examination of abdomen • Additional Diagnostic Methods Laboratory testing • CBC, hemocoagulation • Biochemistry (urea, creatinin, minerals, bilirubin, liver tests, albumin, total protein, CRP, amylase, lipase, Fe, trigycerides, cholesterol, vit B12, gly, oncomarkers) • FOBT (feacal occult blood test) • Breath tests • Microbiological testing • Serology Endoscopy • Upper GI endoscopy (gastroscopy) • Oesophagus, stomach, duodenum Endoscopic methods • Colonoscopy Endoscopic methods • Enteroscopy • Endosonography • Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) Gastrointestinal functional tests • pH-metry • Esophageal manometry • Anorectal manometry • Urea breath test X - ray methods Ultrasound Irrigography Plain abdominal X-ray X - ray methods • Enteroclysis, enterography, evaluation of esophageal passage X - ray methods • CT, MRI Nuclear scanning tests • HIDA • Evaluation of Gastric Emptying Function