
Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions β 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.
Peptic ulcer physical examination
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Peptic ulcer disease patient appears in severe stress due to abdominal pain. Common physical examination findings of peptic ulcer disease include epigastric tenderness, tachycardia.Perforated peptic ulcer disease patient presents with classic triad of severe epigastric tenderness, tachycardia and abdominal rigidity. Clinical signs of perforated peptic ulcer comes in 3 stages: In the initial stage within first 2 hours, the patient presents with tachycardia, epigastric pain and cool extremities.In next 2 to 12 hours, the patient presents with lower right quadrant tenderness and abdominal rigidity. In more than 12 hours, the patient presents with abdominal distension, hypotension, and pyrexia with acute circulatory collapse.
Physical Examination
Physical Examination
Appearance of the Patient
- Patients usually appear in severe distress due to severe abdominal pain
Vital Signs
- Patient has normal vital signs in initial stages of peptic ulcer
- In peptic ulcer perforations vital signs may includeΒ :[1]
- Tachycardia with regular pulse
- Weak pulse
- Low blood pressure with normal pulse pressure
- High-grade fever is present at later stage of peptic ulcer perforation
Skin
- Pallor is present in patients presenting with hematemesis and melena
![The hand of a person with severe anemia compared to one without (on the right) Source -James Heilman, MD - Own work[2]](https://www.wikidoc.org/images/1/1f/Anemia.jpg)
HEENT
- Pallor on the lower conjunctiva can be seen
Lungs
- Normal bilateral vesicular breath sounds
Heart
Abdomen
- Abdominal tenderness at the epigastrium
- Perforated peptic ulcer presents with:[3][4][5]
- Rebound tenderness
- Decreased bowel sounds
- Lower right quadrant tenderness
- Abdominal rigdity
- Abdominal distension
References
References
- β Bertleff MJ, Lange JF (2010). “Perforated peptic ulcer disease: a review of history and treatment”. Dig Surg. 27 (3): 161β9. doi:10.1159/000264653. PMIDΒ 20571260.
- β CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10313974
- β Bertleff MJ, Lange JF (2010). “Perforated peptic ulcer disease: a review of history and treatment”. Dig Surg. 27 (3): 161β9. doi:10.1159/000264653. PMIDΒ 20571260.
- β Chung KT, Shelat VG (2017). “Perforated peptic ulcer – an update”. World J Gastrointest Surg. 9 (1): 1β12. doi:10.4240/wjgs.v9.i1.1. PMCΒ 5237817. PMIDΒ 28138363.
- β Chung KT, Shelat VG (2017). “Perforated peptic ulcer – an update”. World J Gastrointest Surg. 9 (1): 1β12. doi:10.4240/wjgs.v9.i1.1. PMCΒ 5237817. PMIDΒ 28138363.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Manpreet Kaur, MD [2]
