GU/GI Flashcards
End of bed assessment
- Do they appear confused?- is this new?
- Distressed?/ SOB/PAIN?
- Size and shape- pigeon or barrel chest?
- Abdominal mass- is it pulsating?
- Stomas?- how long have they had it?
- JACCOL- Jaundice, Anaemia, Clubbing, Cyanosis, Oedema, Lymphadenopathy
HX taking:
- JAM THREADS
- WHATS SACRED
Associated symptoms: - GI- nausea, D&V, Constipation, bleeding
- Gu- poly/oliguria, frequency, haematuria, pain
- Reproductive- menstrual cycle, pain, N&V, sexual hx, pregnancy
Difference in adults & paeds abdomens
- newborn bladder is right below the symphysis pubis
- Children have weaker abdominal muscles, easier to palpate but be cautious!
- In pregnancy, it’s hard to palpate as the organs move
- Older adults may have decreased bowel sounds due to aging, bowel obstruction & opiates. Less likely to produce saliva and stomach acid, putting teeth at risk. Liver size decreases making OD more dangerous.
IPPA VS IAPP
- IPPA in adults
- IAPP in paeds due to decreased musculature, so palpation must be last. As peristalsis may be stimulated!
General inspection:
-Note down anything unusual
- Abdominal distension- may suggest the presence of ascites/underlying bowel obstruction
- Pallor- underlying anaemia?
- Jaundice- acute hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, pancreatic CA
-Oedema- limbs, is it bi/unilateral?
- Hyperpigmentation of the flanks, think Addisons!
- Cachexia- muscle wastage, commonly associated with underlying malignancy & advanced liver failure.
- Hernias- may be visible from the end of bed, get them to cough
Hands
- nicoteine staining
- Splinter haemorrhages
- Cyanosis
- Leukonychia- hypoalbuminemia
- Clubbing- schamroths window- Liver/ severe kidney problem
Examine the eyes
- Coneal arcus
- Xanthalasema- yellow deposits indicating raised cholesterol
Mouth
Look at pts lips & around the mouth for signs of cyanosis
- Angular stomatitis: Inflammatory condition affecting the corners of the mouth. Iron deficiency?- they can no longer absorb iron!
- Glossitis: Smooth erythematous enlargment of the tounge associated with iron, B12 deficiency.
- Oral candiasis- fungal infection associated with immunosuppression- white slough
Neck- Lymph nodes
- Left supraclavicular lymph node receives drainage from the abdominal cavity.
. Enlargment is known as Virchow/ Trosier node. This node has been established as the spread of gastric CA. - Right supraclavicular lymph node receives lymphatic drainage from the thorax and therefore lymphadenopathy in this region may be associated with oesophageal CA!
Inspection
- Cullens sign (bruising of the tissue surrounding the umbilicous) - late sign of pancreatitis
- Grey turners sign (bruising in the flanks) is a late sign of haemorrhaging pancreatitis
- Caput medusae- Engorged paraumbilical vein associated with portal hypertension
*Hair loss- may indicate a drop in testosterone and increased circulating oestrogen.
- Brusing may suggest underlying clotting abnormalities
- Spider navi- little burst veins that have bleed, caused by increased oestrogen
What are the 6F’S of abdominal distension?
- Fat
- Faeces
- Fluid
- Foetus
- Flatulence
- Fulminant mass- rapid developing mass
Auscultation
- Listen in each quadrant for 2-15mins
- Listen for hypo/hyperactive bowel sounds- caused by peristalsis.
- Normal is between 5-30 per min
- Hyperactive- Diarrhoea, post eating
- Hypoactive- Asleep, constipated, medication use
- Absent- Ileus (when the bowel is paralysed/not doing it’s job) , constipation, rupture of bowel
Arterial bruitis?
- A swishing sound can be heard on auscultation
- This is where there is stenosis (narrowing of blood vessels) at the site of auscultation.
Sites for abdominal auscultation:
- Aorta midline a few cm above the umbilicus
- Renal- left & right- a few cm lateral of the aorta
- Iliac- left & right, a few cm inferior to the umbilicus
- Femoral- left & right, on the inguinal lines
Percussion
- If we find the spleen on percussion, assume that it is enlarged. A normal finding is to not find the spleen!
- Liver should be between 6-12cm
What could a dull sound heard on percussion of abdo indicate?
- Fluid
- Ascites
- Blood
Where are tympanic sounds usually heard over?
- The stomach
Percussion: Liver
- Normally 6-12cm
- Location: Right midclavicular line
- Get pt to hold their breath otherwise, the diaphragm will move the liver about.
- Liver should be quite dull, listen for a change in sound!
Percussion: Spleen
- Should be below the mid axillary line (left side)
- If spleen has moved, assume it has enlarged- splenomegaly
- Normal = oval area of dullness between the 9th and 11th ribs
Percussion: Spleen
- Should be below the mid axillary line (left side)
- If spleen has moved, assume it has enlarged- splenomegaly
- Normal = oval area of dullness between the 9th and 11th ribs
Percussion: Spleen
- Should be below the mid axillary line (left side)
- If spleen has moved, assume it has enlarged- splenomegaly
- Normal = oval area of dullness between the 9th and 11th ribs
What is the pinch test?
- McBurney’s point (right side, below umbilicous 2/3 away)
- Pinch fold of abdominal skin over McBurney’s point, elevate skin away from peritoneum
- If pt experiences pain when the skin fold strikes the peritoneum, the test is + and peritonitis is present.
Rebound tenderness
- Apply pressure to an area of the lower abdomen using hand, quickly remove and if this ilicits pain when skin & tissue that was pushed down moves back into place , positive for peritonitis
Murphys sign
- Tests for Cholecystitis (inflammation of the gall bladder)
- Place hand below right costal margin and get pt to take a deep breath in, if they experience pain at peak inspiration, likely cholecystitis!
Kidneys
- Kidney should be relatively easy to palpate.
- Place left hand on the pts back under the 12th rib and push upwards
- Place right hand down just below the anterior costal margin and ask pt to take a deep breath to help descend the kidney, to trap it between the fingers.
- Balloting the kidneys
- If kidneys are easily palpable or tender= hydronephrosis or pyelonephritis
Costovertebral angle tenderness
- Place non dominant hand underneath the 12th rib and form a fist with dominant hand and punch slightly
- Ask pt if they experience tenderness/pain if yes, likely pyelonephritis
Appendicitis test: Roversing
- Palpate LLQ, if pt experiences pain in RLQ, suggest peritoneal irritation!
Appendicitis: Psoas sign
- RLQ pain with extension/flexion of the right hip against resistance
Appendicitis: Obturators sign
- Get pt lying on their left side and if they experience RLQ when you flex their right leg and internally/externally rotate it, positive for appendicitis!
UTI
- Combination of clinical features & presence of bacteria in the urine.
- Adult males should not be getting UTIs as they have a longer urethra than women.
UTI’s can result in: - Acute/ chronic pylenonephritis
- Cystitis
- Urethritis
- Prostatitis
- Infection may spread to surrounding tissue or the bloodstream- urosepsis!
What checks should you do on pts you’re suspecting UTI?
- CVA tenderness- kidney stone/pylenonephritis
- Kidney balloting
What is cystitis?
- Infection of the bladder rather than the ureter. There is colonisation of bacteria in the bladder, this may be from not going to the toilet or fully void the bladder, the colonisation had been there long enough to start penetrating the tissue.
Common UTI symptoms:
- Foul smelling urine
- Burning sensation whilst urinating
- Dark urine
- Passing urine frequently
- Pain in lower abdomen