Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Abdominal pain physical examination
Introduction
Overview
Overview
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.
Physical Examination
Physical Examination
Appearance of the Patient
- Patient’s body position tends to relieve the pain
- Signs of dehydration and fever
Abdomen
- Bowel sounds
- Distention
- Guarding
- Palpitation for masses and organomegaly
- Rebound tenderness
- Tenderness
- Tympany
Acute Abdomen
In cases of ischemic acute abdomen, bowel sounds will be absent.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]