Abdominal Exam IV: Acute Abdominal Pain Assessment
1. Preparation
- Wash your hands and warm them prior to examining the patient.
- Have the patient put on a gown. An extra drape is necessary to cover the lower body.
- Begin with the patient lying supine on the exam table or bed.
2. Approach to acute abdominal pain
- Begin with a complete set of vital sign tests.
- After entering the room, immediately begin careful inspection. Patients with peritonitis may prefer to lie still with flexed hips and knees.
- Place a drape over the patient's lower body to the pubic symphysis and raise the gown to just below the breasts. Note abdominal distension, skin color, signs of poor perfusion, such as mottling, visible pulsation, or peristalsis, bulges, and scars.
- If the patient is alert, ask the patient to use one finger to point to the painful area. Ask the patient to cough (cough test) or gently bump the bed, which can localize the pain of peritonitis.
- Auscultate the left lower quadrant using the diaphragm with light pressure. Absent bowel sounds may indicate an ileus, while high pitch sounds suggest impending mechanical obstruction. Auscultation has the lowest yield of the diagnostic maneuvers for abdominal pain.
- Auscultate over any bulging areas to assess for herniated bowel.
- Proceed to use the head of the stethoscope to palpate the four quadrants with graduated pressure, while continuing to auscultate. Observe the patient's face for signs of distress, and feel the abdominal wall for rigidity.
- Percuss the abdomen, beginning with very light percussion (light percussion test) over the four quadrants. This can localize peritoneal pain and distinguish it from visceral pain.
- Continue with a moderate percussion stroke in the four quadrants, assessing for abnormal tympany, suggesting air (free air or gas-filled bowel), or dullness, suggesting fluid or mass.
- Ask the patient to flex the legs at the hips and knees.
- Begin palpation by placing the open right hand gently on the abdomen with fingers slightly spread. Use a light rocking motion as the patient breathes, feeling for abdominal wall rigidity. Feel each quadrant in this way, beginning farthest from the site of pain. Distracting the patient with conversation can serve to minimize voluntary guarding.
- Palpate again using moderate pressure with the finger pads (not the fingertips), in a clockwise fashion. In the middle of the clock face, palpate the aorta.
- Palpate bulges evoking suspicion of abdominal wall hernias, and attempt to reduce if present.
- In selected patients, particularly those with lower quadrant pain or suspicion of gastrointestinal bleed, perform a rectal examination.
- Perform a testicular exam on males with lower abdominal pain.
- Perform a pelvic exam on females with abdominal pain.
3. Special Maneuvers in Selected Patients with Abdominal Pain.
- Test for Murphy's sign in patients with right upper quadrant pain. Palpate in the midclavicular line, just below the liver edge.
- Ask the patient to take a deep breath while you palpate deeply. Pain accompanied by cessation of inspiration suggests acute cholecystitis.
- For right lower quadrant pain, the following maneuvers can be diagnostically helpful:
- Elicit Rovsing's sign by deep palpation of the left lower quadrant. Pain referred to the right lower quadrant suggests acute appendicitis.
- Perform the obturator sign by flexing the patient's right hip and knee to 90° and internally rotating the hip. Pain in the right lower quadrant suggests acute appendicitis or a pelvic abscess.
- Perform the psoas sign by having the patient flex the right thigh against the examiner's resisting hand. Lower abdominal pain suggests a retrocecal appendicitis or psoas abscess.To perform an alternate method of the psoas sign, place the patient in the left lateral decubitus position, and standing behind the patient, extend the patient's thigh.
- Perform the Carnett test to assess for abdominal wall pain, which can mimic intra-abdominal pathology and often goes undiagnosed. Identify the point of maximal pain in the supine patient, and palpate there with moderate pressure to elicit tenderness.
- Ask the patient to raise the shoulders off the bed as if doing a sit-up, thereby contracting the abdominal wall muscles. Increased pain suggests an abdominal wall pain, while improved pain suggests intraperitoneal pathology (now protected by the contracted rectus muscles).
- Assess for splenomegaly in patients with left upper quadrant pain or signs of portal hypertension.
- Assess for ascites in patients with a suggestive history.
- Assess for groin hernias: Symptomatic groin hernias may be present with groin pain, an unreducible bulge, or signs of intestinal obstruction, such as abdominal distension, pain, and vomiting. Assessment for groin hernias should be undertaken in selected patients with lower abdominal or groin complaints. Ask the patient to stand, as this is the preferred position to evaluate for groin hernias. Steps 3.6.1. - 3.6.4. can also be performed in the supine position if the patient is unable to stand, though easily reducible hernias may be missed in this position.
- Put on gloves, and ask the patient to lift the gown in the front. Inspect the area of the inguinal canal, femoral canal, and scrotum (males) for bulges on both sides.
- Identify the inguinal ligament extending from the anterior superior iliac spine to the pubic tubercle. The inguinal canal runs parallel to it, between the internal and external inguinal rings. The internal ring, and origin of indirect hernias, is just superior to the midpoint of the inguinal ligament. The external inguinal ring is slightly superior and lateral to the pubic tubercle. The inguinal triangle, and area of origin of direct hernias, is bounded by the inferior epigastric artery laterally, the inguinal ligament inferiorly, and the linea semilunaris medially. The femoral canal lies below the inguinal ligament just medial to the femoral vein and artery.
- Ask the patient to turn the head to the side, and cough or simply bear down, and continue to observe for new bulging or increased size of an existing bulge.
- Using the finger pads of the right hand to examine the right side, palpate over the femoral canal, and ask the patient to cough or bear down again to assess for femoral hernias. Femoral hernias are more common in women and more likely than inguinal hernias to incarcerate.
- Next, palpate over the right inguinal canal. Ask the patient to cough or bear down, then feel for any bulges. An expanding bulge felt toward the midpoint of the inguinal ligament is likely an indirect hernia. A bulge felt near the pubic tubercle is more likely a direct hernia.
- Auscultate over any bulges, noting the presence or absence of bowel sounds.
- In males, if a scrotal mass is observed, palpate it, and try to palpate above it to differentiate it from testicular pathology.
- If no mass is yet evident, use the index finger of the right hand, with the finger pad facing the patient, to palpate the right external inguinal ring and distal inguinal canal by placing the finger on the scrotum, just above the right testicle.
- Invaginate the scrotum, following the spermatic cord superiorly and in the direction of the inguinal canal until the fingertip is just past the external inguinal ring. The spermatic cord (males) and round ligament (females) travels through the inguinal canal.
- Ask the patient to cough or bear down. A bulge felt at the fingertip may be an indirect hernia, while one felt on the side of the finger may be a direct hernia. Of note, the physician's ability to distinguish between direct and indirect hernias on physical exam is imprecise.
- Repeat on the left side using the left hand.
- Attempt to gently reduce any suspected hernias, avoiding forceful reduction. Reduction is facilitated by having the patient lie down in the Trendelenburg position.
Source: Joseph Donroe, MD, Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
Abdominal pain is a frequent presenting concern in both the emergency department and the office setting. Acute abdominal pain is defined as pain lasting less than seven days, while an acute abdomen refers to the abrupt onset of severe abdominal pain with features suggesting a surgically intervenable process. The differential diagnosis of acute abdominal pain is broad; thus, clinicians must have a systematic method of examination guided by a careful history, remembering that pathology outside of the abdomen can also cause abdominal pain, including pulmonary, cardiac, rectal, and genital disorders.
Terminology for describing the location of abdominal tenderness includes the right and left upper and lower quadrants, and the epigastric, umbilical, and hypogastric regions (Figures 1, 2). Thorough examination requires an organized approach involving inspection, auscultation, percussion, and palpation, with each maneuver performed purposefully and with a clear mental representation of the anatomy. Rather than palpating randomly across the abdomen, begin palpating remotely from the site of tenderness, moving systematically toward the tender region, and thinking about what lies below the fingers at each position. A helpful technique is to imagine a clock face with the xiphoid process at 12:00 and the pubic symphysis at 6:00 (Figure 3). When palpating at 8:00, there is skin, muscle, cecum, appendix, and ureters. Performing the exam in this fashion assists in clinical reasoning and minimizes the chance of missing pathology.
Figure 1. Four abdominal quadrants. Abdomen can be divided into four regions by two imaginary lines intersecting at umbilicus. Right upper quadrant (often designated as RUQ), left upper quadrant (LUQ), right lower quadrant (RLQ), and left lower quadrant (LLQ) are shown.
Figure 2. Nine abdominal regions. Midclavicular lines and subcostal and intertubercular planes separate abdomen into nine regions: epigastric region, right hypochondriac region, left hypochondriac region, umbilical region, right lumbar region, left lumbar region, hypogastric region, right inguinal region, and left inguinal region.
Figure 3. Visualizing a clock face over the abdomen for thinking about the underlying anatomy while performing the exam.
1. Preparation
- Wash your hands and warm them prior to examining the patient.
- Have the patient put on a gown. An extra drape is necessary to cover the lower body.
- Begin with the patient lying supine on the exam table or bed.
2. Approach to acute abdominal pain
- Begin with a complete set of vital sign tests.
- After entering the room, immediately begin careful inspection. Patients with peritonitis may prefer to lie still with flexed hips and knees.
- Place a drape over the patient's lower body to the pubic symphysis and raise the gown to just below the breasts. Note abdominal distension, skin color, signs of poor perfusion, such as mottling, visible pulsation, or peristalsis, bulges, and scars.
- If the patient is alert, ask the patient to use one finger to point to the painful area. Ask the patient to cough (cough test) or gently bump the bed, which can localize the pain of peritonitis.
- Auscultate the left lower quadrant using the diaphragm with light pressure. Absent bowel sounds may indicate an ileus, while high pitch sounds suggest impending mechanical obstruction. Auscultation has the lowest yield of the diagnostic maneuvers for abdominal pain.
- Auscultate over any bulging areas to assess for herniated bowel.
- Proceed to use the head of the stethoscope to palpate the four quadrants with graduated pressure, while continuing to auscultate. Observe the patient's face for signs of distress, and feel the abdominal wall for rigidity.
- Percuss the abdomen, beginning with very light percussion (light percussion test) over the four quadrants. This can localize peritoneal pain and distinguish it from visceral pain.
- Continue with a moderate percussion stroke in the four quadrants, assessing for abnormal tympany, suggesting air (free air or gas-filled bowel), or dullness, suggesting fluid or mass.
- Ask the patient to flex the legs at the hips and knees.
- Begin palpation by placing the open right hand gently on the abdomen with fingers slightly spread. Use a light rocking motion as the patient breathes, feeling for abdominal wall rigidity. Feel each quadrant in this way, beginning farthest from the site of pain. Distracting the patient with conversation can serve to minimize voluntary guarding.
- Palpate again using moderate pressure with the finger pads (not the fingertips), in a clockwise fashion. In the middle of the clock face, palpate the aorta.
- Palpate bulges evoking suspicion of abdominal wall hernias, and attempt to reduce if present.
- In selected patients, particularly those with lower quadrant pain or suspicion of gastrointestinal bleed, perform a rectal examination.
- Perform a testicular exam on males with lower abdominal pain.
- Perform a pelvic exam on females with abdominal pain.
3. Special Maneuvers in Selected Patients with Abdominal Pain.
- Test for Murphy's sign in patients with right upper quadrant pain. Palpate in the midclavicular line, just below the liver edge.
- Ask the patient to take a deep breath while you palpate deeply. Pain accompanied by cessation of inspiration suggests acute cholecystitis.
- For right lower quadrant pain, the following maneuvers can be diagnostically helpful:
- Elicit Rovsing's sign by deep palpation of the left lower quadrant. Pain referred to the right lower quadrant suggests acute appendicitis.
- Perform the obturator sign by flexing the patient's right hip and knee to 90° and internally rotating the hip. Pain in the right lower quadrant suggests acute appendicitis or a pelvic abscess.
- Perform the psoas sign by having the patient flex the right thigh against the examiner's resisting hand. Lower abdominal pain suggests a retrocecal appendicitis or psoas abscess.To perform an alternate method of the psoas sign, place the patient in the left lateral decubitus position, and standing behind the patient, extend the patient's thigh.
- Perform the Carnett test to assess for abdominal wall pain, which can mimic intra-abdominal pathology and often goes undiagnosed. Identify the point of maximal pain in the supine patient, and palpate there with moderate pressure to elicit tenderness.
- Ask the patient to raise the shoulders off the bed as if doing a sit-up, thereby contracting the abdominal wall muscles. Increased pain suggests an abdominal wall pain, while improved pain suggests intraperitoneal pathology (now protected by the contracted rectus muscles).
- Assess for splenomegaly in patients with left upper quadrant pain or signs of portal hypertension.
- Assess for ascites in patients with a suggestive history.
- Assess for groin hernias: Symptomatic groin hernias may be present with groin pain, an unreducible bulge, or signs of intestinal obstruction, such as abdominal distension, pain, and vomiting. Assessment for groin hernias should be undertaken in selected patients with lower abdominal or groin complaints. Ask the patient to stand, as this is the preferred position to evaluate for groin hernias. Steps 3.6.1. - 3.6.4. can also be performed in the supine position if the patient is unable to stand, though easily reducible hernias may be missed in this position.
- Put on gloves, and ask the patient to lift the gown in the front. Inspect the area of the inguinal canal, femoral canal, and scrotum (males) for bulges on both sides.
- Identify the inguinal ligament extending from the anterior superior iliac spine to the pubic tubercle. The inguinal canal runs parallel to it, between the internal and external inguinal rings. The internal ring, and origin of indirect hernias, is just superior to the midpoint of the inguinal ligament. The external inguinal ring is slightly superior and lateral to the pubic tubercle. The inguinal triangle, and area of origin of direct hernias, is bounded by the inferior epigastric artery laterally, the inguinal ligament inferiorly, and the linea semilunaris medially. The femoral canal lies below the inguinal ligament just medial to the femoral vein and artery.
- Ask the patient to turn the head to the side, and cough or simply bear down, and continue to observe for new bulging or increased size of an existing bulge.
- Using the finger pads of the right hand to examine the right side, palpate over the femoral canal, and ask the patient to cough or bear down again to assess for femoral hernias. Femoral hernias are more common in women and more likely than inguinal hernias to incarcerate.
- Next, palpate over the right inguinal canal. Ask the patient to cough or bear down, then feel for any bulges. An expanding bulge felt toward the midpoint of the inguinal ligament is likely an indirect hernia. A bulge felt near the pubic tubercle is more likely a direct hernia.
- Auscultate over any bulges, noting the presence or absence of bowel sounds.
- In males, if a scrotal mass is observed, palpate it, and try to palpate above it to differentiate it from testicular pathology.
- If no mass is yet evident, use the index finger of the right hand, with the finger pad facing the patient, to palpate the right external inguinal ring and distal inguinal canal by placing the finger on the scrotum, just above the right testicle.
- Invaginate the scrotum, following the spermatic cord superiorly and in the direction of the inguinal canal until the fingertip is just past the external inguinal ring. The spermatic cord (males) and round ligament (females) travels through the inguinal canal.
- Ask the patient to cough or bear down. A bulge felt at the fingertip may be an indirect hernia, while one felt on the side of the finger may be a direct hernia. Of note, the physician's ability to distinguish between direct and indirect hernias on physical exam is imprecise.
- Repeat on the left side using the left hand.
- Attempt to gently reduce any suspected hernias, avoiding forceful reduction. Reduction is facilitated by having the patient lie down in the Trendelenburg position.
Abdominal pain is a frequent presenting concern for physicians in both the emergency department and the office setting.
Acute abdominal pain is defined as the pain lasting for less than seven days. It should not be confused with acute abdomen, which refers to the abrupt onset of severe pain with features suggesting a surgically intervenable process. The differential diagnosis of acute abdominal pain is broad, thus clinicians must follow a systematic method when examining patients presenting this condition.
This video will begin with a review of the key anatomical locations and terminology needed to understand the physical findings of this exam. It will then go on to demonstrate how to conduct the general assessment in patients experiencing acute abdominal pain, followed by special maneuvers that one should perform if a specific pathology is suspected.
Before we get to the examination, let's briefly review some of the key anatomical locations that will help you interpret the findings during the exam. Terminology for describing the location of abdominal tenderness includes the right upper and lower quadrants, left upper and lower quadrants, and the epigastric, periumbilical, and hypogastric regions
A thorough examination requires an organized approach involving inspection, auscultation, percussion, and palpation, with each maneuver performed purposefully and with a clear mental representation of the anatomy. A helpful technique is to imagine a clock face with the xiphoid process at 12:00 and the pubic symphysis at 6:00. When palpating at 8:00, there is skin, muscle, cecum, appendix, and ureters. Performing the exam in this fashion assists in clinical reasoning and minimizes the chance of missing a pathology.
With this background information, let's start reviewing the steps of the physical exam to be performed when a patient complains of acute abdominal pain. The first step is to acquire a complete patient history, which will guide the whole procedure and the interpretation of its findings. Remind yourself that conditions outside of the abdomen such as pulmonary, cardiac, rectal, and genital disorders, can just as easily lead to abdominal pain as conditions inside the abdomen.
After taking the history, request the patient to put on a gown. While the patient is changing, wash your hands thoroughly. Upon re-entering the room, review the patient's chart to check their vital signs. To start the exam, request the patient to lie down. Observe the position the patient occupies, as patients with peritonitis may prefer to lie still with flexed hips and knees.
Once the patient is comfortable, place a drape over the patient's lower body to cover the area below the pubic symphysis, and raise the gown to just below the breasts. Begin with inspection; note abdominal distension, skin color, bulges, scars, peristalsis or signs of poor perfusion such as mottling and visible pulsation.
After this initial visual inspection, ask the patient to point to the painful area. Then, instruct him or her to cough on purpose? If the patient is unable to do so, gently bump the examination table. Both these maneuvers help to localize the pain of peritonitis.
Next, auscultate the left lower quadrant, while applying light pressure. Absence of bowel sounds indicates an ileus, while high pitch sounds may suggest impending mechanical obstruction. For particularly anxious patients, palpating the four quadrants with graduated pressure using the diaphragm of the stethoscope can be a useful technique. Take note of the patient's face for signs of discomfort and at the same time feel the abdominal wall for rigidity.
Following auscultation, lightly percuss over the four quadrants. This can localize peritoneal pain and distinguish it from visceral pain. Continue with a moderate percussion stroke in the four quadrants, assessing for abnormal tympany suggesting free air or gas-filled bowel, or dullness suggesting fluid or mass. For patient with true peritoneal pain, this would not be performed because it is too painful.
Following percussion, begin with palpation. Place the open right hand gently on the abdomen with fingers slightly spread. Initially, use a light rocking motion as the patient breathes, feeling for abdominal wall rigidity. Feel each quadrant in this way, beginning farthest from the site of pain. Distracting the patient with conversation can serve to minimize voluntary guarding. Palpate again using moderate pressure with the finger pads, in a clockwise fashion. At the end, palpate the aorta, which is at the middle of the clock face. During the exam, you may be able to identify abnormal bulges due to abdominal wall hernia. If present, auscultate over the bulge and try to reduce it using your finger pads.
In selected patients, particularly those with lower quadrant pain or suspicion of gastrointestinal bleed, perform a rectal examination. In addition, if a male patient complains of lower abdominal pain, perform a testicular exam, and for female patients perform a pelvic exam.
After these general steps, in some cases, you might have to perform some special maneuvers if a specific pathology is suspected. If the patient is experiencing pain in the right upper quadrant, you should test for Murphy's sign-a maneuver used to detect presence of acute cholecystitis. Palpate the patient in the right mid-clavicular line, just below the liver edge. Ask the patient to take a deep breath, while applying deep pressure. Pain accompanied by cessation of inspiration suggests acute cholecystitis.
For right lower quadrant pain, assess for Rovsing's sign. Deeply palpate the left lower quadrant. While doing so, if the patient refers to pain in right lower quadrant, then one can suspect acute appendicitis. Another maneuver for the right lower quadrant pain is called the obturator sign. To perform this, passively flex the patient's right hip and knee to a 90? angle and internally rotate the hip. Pain in the right lower quadrant upon this movement may suggest acute appendicitis or a pelvic abscess.
Next, perform the test for psoas sign. Request the patient to flex their right thigh while you provide resistance. If this elicits lower abdominal pain, then one can suspect retrocecal appendicitis or psoas abscess. Alternatively, you can instruct the patient to occupy left lateral decubitus position, and while standing behind the patient, extend their thigh to unmask lower abdominal pain.
In order to diagnose abdominal wall pain, perform the Carnett test. While in supine position, ask the patient to identify the point of maximum pain, and palpate there with moderate pressure to elicit tenderness. Then, ask the patient to raise their shoulders off the bed as if they were doing a sit-up. This action contracts the abdominal wall muscles. Increased patient pain suggests abdominal wall pathology, while attenuated pain suggests intraperitoneal pathology.
Also, assess for splenomegaly in patients with left upper quadrant pain or signs of portal hypertension. And assess for ascites in patients with a suggestive history. These maneuvers are covered in detail in another video focusing on abdominal percussion. Lastly, if the patient is complaining of the lower abdominal or groin pain, you should assess for groin hernias. Symptomatic hernias can present with pain, an irreducible bulge, and signs of intestinal obstruction such as abdominal distension and vomiting.
To assess the groin hernia, it is best to request the patient to stand up. If the patient is unable to stand you may conduct the following steps while the patient is in the supine position. However, keep in mind, easily reducible hernias may be missed in supine position. Put gloves on and ask the patient to lift the front of their gown. Start by inspecting the areas of the inguinal and femoral canals. Before proceeding identify certain landmarks of this region?"Doctor's dialogue explaining the different landmarks"
After those surface landmarks are identified, ask the patient to turn his or her head to the side and cough. Observe for new bulging or increased size of an existing bulge. Next, using the finger pads of the right hand to examine the right side, palpate over the femoral canal and ask the patient to cough or bear down again to assess for femoral hernias. Once complete, palpate over the right inguinal canal. Again, ask the patient to cough or simply bear down as you feel for bulges. An expanding bulge felt toward the midpoint of the inguinal ligament is likely an indirect hernia, while a bulge felt near the pubic tubercle is more likely a direct hernia. In addition, auscultate over any bulges, noting if there are any bowel sounds.
Next, palpate the right external inguinal ring and distal inguinal canal. To do this, place your right index fingerpad onto the scrotum, just above the right testicle. Apply pressure and investigate the scrotum by following the spermatic cord superiorly and in the direction of the inguinal canal until the fingertip is just past the external inguinal ring. Then ask the patient to cough or bear down. A bulge felt at the fingertip may represent an indirect hernia, while a bulge felt on the side of the finger may represent a direct hernia. When the right side is complete, repeat the process on the left side, using your left hand. If a hernia is identified, attempt to gently reduce it, while the patient is in the supine or Trendelenburg position. Please avoid forceful reduction. At the end of the exam, discuss your findings with the patient.
You have just watched a JoVE video documenting the physical examination of a patient suffering from acute abdominal pain. You should now understand the systematic sequence of steps that a physician should follow in order to deduce the differential diagnosis of this type of pain. As always, thanks for watching!
A systematic approach to examining a patient with acute abdominal pain includes inspection, auscultation, percussion, and palpation. Special maneuvers to detect abdominal wall pain, appendicitis, cholecystitis, and hernias should be performed if there is suspicion for these processes.
The exam findings that are most useful for increasing the probability of disease include rigidity and percussion tenderness for general peritonitis; McBurney's point tenderness, positive Rovsing's sign, and posit...
Chapters in this video
0:00
Overview
1:06
Key Anatomical Landmarks
2:13
General Assessment for Acute Abdominal Pain
6:24
Maneuvers for Certain Common Causes of Abdominal Pain
13:05
Summary
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