Short bowel syndrome physical examination

Patients with short bowel syndrome usually appear weak and tired. Physical examination of patients with short bowel syndrome is usually remarkable for signs of malabsorption, dehydration and abdominal tenderness.

Physical examination of patients with short bowel syndrome is usually remarkable for weakness, dehydration and abdominal tenderness and distention.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]}

• Patients with short bowel syndrome usually appear weak and tired.

• Low-grade fever
• Hypothermia may be present
• Tachycardia with regular pulse
• Weak pulse
• Low blood pressure with normal pulse pressure

• Pallor
• Dry skin

• Temporal wasting
• Corneal erosion

• Abdominal distention
• Hyperactive bowel sound
• Abdominal tenderness
• Rebound tenderness (positive Blumberg sign)
• Guarding may be present

• Patient is usually oriented to person, place, and time
• Confusion
• Hyporeflexia
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Bilateral extremity weakness

• Peripheral edema
• Muscular atrophy

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