Abdominal assessment Flashcards
How can you increase the accuracy of palpation with a patient with severe abdominal pain?
Ask them to bend the legs at the hip and exhale before each palpation to help them relax and give you a more accurate result
What can palmar errythema be a sign of?
Chronic liver failure
Pregnancy
What can asterixis be a sign of?
Metabolic enceohalopathy
-Liver disease (Hepatic)
-Kidney disease (Uremic)
-CO2 retention
Electrolyte disturbances
Medication side effects
Brain lesions
What can pruritus (itching) be caused by internally?
Liver disease
Kidney disease
Anemia
Diabetes
Thyroid problems
Certain cancers.
What is angular stomatitis and what can it signify?
Inflamation at corner of mouth - Iron deficiency
What can a glossy tongue signify?
B12 and/or iron deficiency
What can a white layer over the tongue signify?
Fungal infection
What can an inflamed Virchow’s node signify?
It is one of first signs of metastatic abdominal malignancy
Where is Virchow’s node found?
Left supra-clavicular fossa
What are you looking for during abdominal inspection?
Distension
– 6 F’s: Fluid, Fetus, Flatulence, Faeces, Fat, Fulminant mass
Pulsating mass
Scars
Stoma
Hernias (ask pt to cough)
Striae (Stretch marks)
Jaundice
Cachexia
Hair loss
Bruising
-Cullen’s and Grey Turner’s
Abnormal vasculature
-Spider naevi, caput medusae
Petechae/purpura
Rashes
What are the four Ts of HHS/DKA?
Tummy (pain)
Toilet (Freq./Urg.)
Thirsty
Tired
What abdominal arteries can be auscultated?
Abdominal aorta
Renal arteries
Common illiac arteries
What are you looking for during examination of the face and hands during abdominal assessment?
Face:
Jaundice of the face and sclera
Anaemia of eyelids/face
Xanthelasma/xathamoata
Corneal archus
Malar flush
Cervical lymph nodes
Apthuous ulcers
Cold sores
Hands:
Tar staines on fingers
Palmar erythema
Koilonychia (spoon nails)
Leukonychia (whitening of nail bed)
Finger clubbing
Asterixis
