Palpation should generally occur with the examiner on the patient's right side. Warm hands and a relaxed patient are essential for palpation to be successful. To help the patient relax: Show
Adopt a systematic approach to evaluate the suprapubic, periumbilical and epigastric regions in addition to all four quadrants. Note any masses, areas of tenderness or guarding. Follow light palpation with deep palpation. Palpating the liver:After general palpation, the examiner should specifically palpate the liver, assessing its contour and consistency, size, and the presence of tenderness or pulsatility. If palpable, the normal liver is smooth with a soft, distinct edge, is generally nontender and may be palpable several centimeters below the costal margin in the mid-clavicular line. Palpating the spleen:After palpating the liver, determine if a spleen tip is palpable, noting location, contour, and presence of tenderness. Having the patient roll onto her right side will increase your ability to palpate subtle splenic enlargement. A spleen tip is rarely palpable in adults, and its presence should alert the examiner to possible splenomegaly. Palpating for aorta and kidneys:Lastly, assess for aortic aneurysm. Approximately 30% of asymptomatic abdominal aneurysms are picked up on physical examination of the abdomen. The normal aorta is less then 3.0 cm wide. A periumbilical or upper abdominal pulsatile mass is suggestive of an aortic aneurysm or ectasia. The ability to evaluate the aortic width by palpation is highly dependent upon body mass or abdominal musculature. In adults, kidneys are rarely palpable, unless they are enlarged or very cystic. However, transplanted kidneys are palpable in the lower quadrants. Inguinal region: Often included in the abdominal exam is an evaluation of the inguinal region; evaluating the arterial pulses by palpation and auscultation and noting any enlargement of lymph nodes.
Introduction[1, 2]A well-conducted abdominal examination can reveal a great deal of information but, if it is poorly performed, it can reveal nothing and lose the patient's confidence if it causes pain. Everyone develops a personal technique with time and adjusts it according to circumstances. Emphasis will be different if the problem is an acute abdomen or an abdominal mass. Not all of what is described below needs to be performed in full every time but knowledge of the full routine is important so that all parts may be brought in as required. Preparation for an abdominal examination
Inspection[1, 2]General inspection
Examination of the handsLook for:
Examination of the neck
Examination of the mouth
Inspection of the abdomen
Palpation of the abdomen[1, 2]
Examination of the liver
Examination of the gallbladder
Examination of the spleen
Palpation of the kidneys
Palpation for pelvic masses
Examination for hernias
Percussion of the abdomen[1, 2]
Techniques to demonstrate ascitesFullness of the flanks may be the first indication of ascites. Techniques to demonstrate ascites include:
Auscultation of the abdomen[1, 2]
Pelvic examination
Rectal examination
Children[4]Abdominal examination of children can be much more difficult. They often complain of 'tummy pain' and point to the umbilicus.
When performing palpation of the abdomen on a patient that is ticklish what is the first maneuver you can employ to desensitize them?When attempting an abdominal exam on an older child or adolescent who is ticklish, ask the patient to place his (her) hand on top of yours and press down with you. You can put your other hand on top of the patient's hand to help.
How can you distract patient during palpation of the abdomen?Distract the patient with conversation, if necessary, to keep him or her from tensing the abdominal muscles. Follow the orderly sequence of inspection, auscultation, percussion, and palpation. Warm the bell and diaphragm of your stethoscope before auscultation; warm your hands before palpation.
When palpating the abdomen which technique should be used?Deep palpation of the abdomen is performed by placing the flat of the hand on the abdominal wall and applying firm, steady pressure. It may be helpful to use two-handed palpation (Figure 93.2), particularly in evaluating a mass. Here the upper hand is used to exert pressure, while the lower hand is used to feel.
When palpating the abdomen light palpation should feel?Generally, there are two types of palpation. Light palpation depresses the abdomen to a depth of about 1 cm. It is often performed first and is used to detect tenderness in a particular region or quadrant. Deep palpation depresses the abdomen to a depth of about 4–5 cm.
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