Abdominal pain physical examination

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

When a physician assesses a patient to determine the etiology and subsequent treatment for abdominal pain, the patient’s history of the presenting complaint and their physical examination should derive a diagnosis in over 90% of cases. It is important also for a physician to remember that abdominal pain can be caused by problems outside the abdomen, especially heart attacks and pneumonias which can occasionally present as abdominal pain.

• Patient’s body position tends to relieve the pain
• Signs of dehydration and fever

• Bowel sounds
• Distention
• Guarding
• Palpitation for masses and organomegaly
• Rebound tenderness
• Tenderness
• Tympany

In cases of ischemic acute abdomen, bowel sounds will be absent.

Template:Gastroenterology

Template:WikiDoc Sources