Physical Signs Of The Abdomen

Lidia Ionescu Cl.III chirurgie

Abdomen Region of the trunk, between the diaphragm

and the inlet of the pelvis.

Abdomen Diaphragm=primary muscle of respiration, dome-

shaped: right dome-upper border 5th rib, left dome-lower border 5th rib. Openings:  aorta opening,  esophageal opening,  caval opening

Pelvic inlet: sacral promontory, ileopectineal lines

and symphysis pubis.

 xiphoid process X  costal cartilages (ribs 7-10)  tips of ribs 11 and 12  vertebrae L1-L5  iliac crests IC  tubercle of the crest TC  anterior superior iliac spine

ASIS  anterior inferior iliac spine AIIS  inguinal ligament IL  pubic tubercle PT  pubic crest PC  pubic symphysis PS  the separation of the abdomen from the pelvis, the pelvic brim PB

Rectus sheath  Is a covering envelope over the rectus abdominis m.(RA) created by the

aponeurosis of the other three musc. Above arcuate line – ant.- RA has aponeurosis of EO, and ant half of IO aponeurosis . - behind it, is the post half of IO aponeurosis, TA. aponeurosis and TF. Below arcuate line - all musc aponeurosis run in front of RA m., leaving only transversalis fascia behind it.  The idea is that - to keep the tension of the ant wall of abdomen.

 Where the hell is the Arcuate line? About 1/3 of the way between the

umbilicus and the pubic crest.

Surface landmarks Xiphoid process Costal margin Iliac crest Symphysis pubis Inguinal ligament Superficial inguinal ring Linea alba Umbilicus Rectus abdominis Linea semilunaris

NORMAL ABDOMEN

NORMAL ABDOMEN

 Use your knowledge to project

the anatomy onto the surface of the abdomen.

 You will want to be able to

visualize the relative positions of abdominal organs as they lie within the abdomen.

 By subdividing the surface into

regions, one person can tell another person exactly where to look for possible problems

Layers of the abdominal wall

-

skin superficial fascia deep fascia muscle subserous fascia peritoneum

 These regions are formed by

two vertical planes and two horizontal planes.

 The two vertical planes are

the lateral lines LLL and RLL.

These lines are dropped from a point half way between the jugular notch and the acromion process.  The two horizontal planes are

the transpyloric plane TPP and the transtubercular plane TTP. The tubercles are the tubercles of the iliac crests.

As you examine the abdomen in thin subjects, you may be able to see the superficial veins that drain the abdominal wall. These veins drain into one of two major veins: subclavian and femoral (F) and also into a minor, but important vein, the paraumbilical vein PU.  The paraumbilical vein drains into

the portal vein and then through the liver. This is an important clinical connection.  The lower abdominal wall is drained by way of the superficial epigastric SE and superficial circumflex iliac SCI veins into the femoral vein.  The upper abdominal wall is drained by way of the thoracoepigastric TE and lateral thoracic LT veins into the subclavian.

 The most superficial layer of

anterolateral muscles are the: external abdominal obliques EAO

 The cutaneous nerves to the

abdomen are mainly continuations of the lower intercostal nerves (T7 - T12).  The lowermost part of the abdominal wall is supplied by a branch of L1, the iliohypogastric IH nerve. Its other branch is the ilioinguinal II nerve.  Linea alba LA. is where the aponeuroses of the external abdominal oblique, internal abdominal oblique, and transverse abdominis muscles converge at the midsagittal part of the abdominal wall.

 In the image, the left external

abdominal oblique has been cut away at the white dotted line and removed in order to show the internal abdominal oblique IAO.

 You can also see lower cut edge of the

external abdominal oblique at the inguinal ligament IL

 The anterior wall of the rectus sheath

RS has also been removed on the right side in order to see the underlying right rectus abdominis RA muscle.

 Note that the rectus abdominis muscle

is subdivided into small sections by so called tendinous inscriptions TI.

 You may also see a small muscle

overlying the inferior end of the rectus abdominis muscle, the pyramidalis muscle PY. This small muscles tenses the lower part of the linea alba.

 The rectus abdominis muscle,

internal abdominal oblique and anterior rectus sheath have been removed. You can identify the posterior rectus sheath and its lower free margin, the arcuate line AL.  What you see below this line is the transversalis fascia and running in the fascia is the inferior epigastric artery IEA, a branch of the external iliac artery. This artery enters the rectus sheath posterior to the rectus abdominis muscle and supplies the anterior abdominal wall. Extending from the top, is a branch of the internal thoracic (or mammary) artery, the superior epigastric artery.  Also note that the cutaneous nerves are found to lie between the internal abdominal oblique and the transversus abdominis muscles.

Good abdominal examination Good light Relaxed patient Full exposure of the abdo. from xiphoid

process to the SP. The groin should be visible although the genitalia should be kept draped

Inspection Note the shape of the abdomen Look for scars, sinuses, fistulae Look for distended veins Look for visible peristalsis- Bowel obstruction

Inspection Inspection is always

an important first step in any physical examination. Look at the abdominal contour and note any asymmetry. Record the location of scars, rashes, or other lesions.

ABDOMEN DRAPING

ASCITES

CAPUT MEDUSA

HEPATOMEGALY

OBESITY

ASSYMETRIC ABDOMEN

UMBILICAL HERNIA

Auscultation Unlike other regions

of the body, auscultation comes before percussion and palpation (the sounds may change after manipulation). Record bowel sounds as being present, increased, decreased, or absent.

Auscultation Bowel sounds- gurgling noises if it contains a

mixture of fluid and gas Normal bowel sounds- low-pitched gurgles No bowel sounds- silent abdomen High-pitched bowel sounds- “tinkling sounds”-mechanical bowel obstruction Systolic bruits over the aorta and iliac arteries

ABDOMINAL ASCULTATION

Bruits In addition to bowel

sounds, abdominal bruits are sometimes heard. Listen over the aorta, renal, and iliac arteries. Bruits confined to systole do not necessarily indicate disease. Don't be fooled by a heart murmur transmitted to the abdomen.

Palpation Begin by feeling the area that you might

otherwise forget:

Feel the supraclavicular fossa for lymph nodes Feel the hernial orifices at rest and when the

patient coughs. Feel the femoral pulses Examine the external genitalia

PALPATION

Light palpation Begin with light

palpation. At this point you are mostly looking for areas of tenderness. The most sensitive indicator of tenderness is the patient's facial expression.

Deep palpation Proceed to deep

palpation after surveying the abdomen lightly. Try to identify abdominal masses or areas of deep tenderness.

Palpation of the liver To palpate the liver

edge, place your fingers just below the costal margin and press firmly. Ask the patient to take a deep breath. You may feel the edge of the liver press against or slide under your hand. A normal liver is not tender.

Alternate method for liver palpation An alternate method

for palpating the liver uses hands "hooked" around the costal margin from above. The patient should be instructed to breath deeply to force the liver down toward your fingers.

Palpation of the aorta The aorta is easily

palpable on most individuals. You should feel it pulsating with deep palpation of the central abdomen. An enlarged aorta may be a sign of an aortic aneurysm.

Palpation of the spleen Press down just below

the left costal margin with your right hand while asking the patient to take a deep breath. It may help to use your left hand to lift the lower rib cage and flank. The spleen is not normally palpable on most individuals.

Palpation Tenderness

Guarding

Rigidity

Palpate for masses Site Shape Size Surface Edge Consistence Mobility Tenderness

Percussion Shifting dullness- ascitis Tympanism- hyperresonance- bowel

distension

Measure the height of the liver dullness

Percussion Tympany is normally

present over most of the abdomen in the supine position.

Unusual dullness

may be a clue to an underlying abdominal mass.

Liver span Measure the liver

span by percussing hepatic dullness from above (lung) and below (bowel). A normal liver span is 6 to 12 cm in the midclavicular line.

Splenic enlargement To detect an

enlarged spleen, percuss the lowest interspace in the left anterior axillary line. Ask the patient to take a deep breath and repeat. A change from tympany to dullness suggests splenic enlargement

Rebound tenderness This is a test for

peritoneal irritation. Palpate deeply and then quickly release pressure. If it hurts more when you release, the patient has rebound tenderness.

Costo vertebral angle tenderness CVA tenderness is

often associated with renal disease. Use the heel of your closed fist to strike the patient firmly over the costovertebral angles.

Shifting dullness If dullness on

percussion shifts when the patient is rolled on the side, peritoneal fluid (ascites) may be present.

Abdominal pain The significance of the site of abdominal pain: Upper abdominal pain Central abdominal pain Lower abdominal pain

Acute appendicitis  The position of the

appendix is highly variable.  In addition to its "normal" position it can be found against the abdominal wall (anterior), below the pelvic brim (pelvic), behind the cecum (retrocecal), or behind the terminal ilium (retroilial).  The pain associated with appendicitis varies with the anatomy.

Appendicular point

The picture on the left shows a swollen appendix attached to the cecum. Note the stress on the blood vessels caused by the swelling. The picture on the right is a cross section through the appendix showing an appendicolith blocking the lumen. Blockage of the lumen is one of the most common causes of acute appendicitis.

Acute cholecystitis Localized or diffuse

RUQ pain Radiation to right scapula Vomitting and constipation Fever

Acute renal colic Severe flank pain Radiation to groin Vomitting and

urinary symptoms Blood in the urine

Things to remember Consider inguinal/rectal examination in

males.

Consider pelvic/rectal examination in females. Disorders in the chest will often manifest with

abdominal symptoms. It is always wise to examine the chest when evaluating an abdominal complaint

Anorectal examination Preparation Ensure adequate privacy Uncover the patient from the waist to the knee Left lateral position, hips flexed to 90º , knees

flexed less than 90º

Anorectal examination Equipment Glove Lubricating jelly Good light

Position for PR

Position of the finger

Digital rectal examination- PR Indications:  for the diagnosis of rectal tumors and other forms of cancer;  in males, for the diagnosis of prostatic disorders, notably tumors and benign prostatic hyperplasia;  for the diagnosis of appendicitis or other examples of an acute abdomen (i.e. acute abdominal symptoms indicating a serious underlying disease);

Digital rectal examination Indications:  for the estimation of the tonicity of

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the anal sphincter, which may be useful in case of fecal incontinence or neurologic diseases, including traumatic spinal cord injuries; in females, for gynecological palpations of internal organs for examination of the hardness and color of the feces (ie. in cases of constipation, and fecal impaction ); prior to a colonoscopy or proctoscopy. to evaluate haemorrhoids

Do not do like that

Anorectal examination Inspection:perianal skin: Skin rashes Fecal soiling, blood,mucus Scars or fistula openings Polyps, papillomata, prolapsed piles Ulcers, fissures Palpation: The anal canal The rectum

Perianal abscess  The anus and rectum (which form

the back passage) are common sites of abscess formation.  Anorectal abscesses are more common in men and often develop from anorectal fistulas or sexually transmitted infections.  They present as painful, tender swellings and are easily accessible for surgical treatment. The image below shows a magnified view of a perianal abscess on the skin surrounding the anal opening.  This should be picked up by your doctor on careful examination of the anus and rectum.

Perianal inspection  Extensive perianal condyloma

acuminata (arrow).

 This condition is generally caused

by infection with human papillomavirus .

Perianal condiloma acuminata  Patients are often unaware that condylomata can arise around the

anal area .  In a sexually active population, the prevalence of the human papillomavirus (HPV, or "wart virus") is around 50 percent.  Once infected with HPV, the entire anogenital tract is involved.  The majority of patients with perianal condylomata have not

engaged in anal intercourse.  Infection is believed to occur due to pooling of secretions in the anal area. Condylomata can reach substantial size, and multiple lesions are common.  If one lesion is present, a complete genital and anorectal examination is indicated to detect additional growths.

Acute fissure

 Anterior and posterior fissures are most  

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common. If fissures are located laterally, other etiologies must be considered. Fissures can often be identified by merely spreading the glutei but generally require anoscopy. A fissure is a small cut or split in the anoderm . It may be induced by a hard bowel movement or straining at stool. Fissures are most commonly located anterior or posterior to the anus. When fissures are found laterally, syphilis, tuberculosis, occult abscesses, leukemic infiltrates, carcinoma, herpes, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or inflammatory bowel disease should be considered as causes.

Acute fissure Sphincter tone is markedly increased, and digital

examination produces extreme pain. Most fissures can be observed with gentle lateral retraction around the anus. If the patient can tolerate anoscopic examination, a tear may be seen in the mucosa, and frequently there is bleeding.

Chronic fissure-anoscopy  Chronic fissures may

present as an external perianal tag, or sentinal tag (black arrow).  The proximal end may also have granulation tissue that appears as an anal polyp (white arrow).  When the condition is this advanced, a lateral sphincterotomy is usually required.

External site of perianal fistula  The most common cause of anal

fistula is cryptoglandular infection.  Infections that begin in the anal glands can evolve and present as either abscesses or fistulas.  Fistulas are common in patients with Crohn's disease.  The track of anal fistulas can be extensive . Flexible sigmoidoscopic examination is indicated to evaluate the mucosa of the distal colon for signs of inflammatory bowel disease. The index of suspicion for Crohn's disease is increased by a history of episodes of diarrhea, abdominal cramping and weight loss, and the appearance, location and multiplicity of the fistulas

Probing of perianal fistula

 When anoscopy revealed no

anal pathology, closer inspection allowed the physician to identify this papular area.  The wooden end of a cottontipped applicator was inserted 3 cm. confirming a fistula, and the patient was referred for surgery.

Perianal abscesses

Thrombosed external hemorrhoids and perianal tags from "old" disease

Anal polyp  Anal polyps require

removal and, if they are confirmed to be adenomatous (tubular, tubular-villous or villous), colonoscopy is required to rule out the existence of proximal lesions.

Anal cancer  This anal cancer had been

treated for three months with steroid suppositories although the patient had never had a physical examination.  Simple inspection of the external anal area allowed the physician to identify this aggressive tumor.

Case report A case of a man with uncommon, but

surgically significant cause of abdominal pain is presented

Case report A 22-year-old man came to our ED with a chief

complaint of lower abdominal pain with a history of 8 hours.  Physical examination showed tenderness sharply localized to the left lower quadrant, and marked rebound tenderness in an area corresponding to McBurney's point but on the left side. His temperature was 37°C.

Case report  Laboratory examinations showed a white blood cell count of

14.7x103/µl with 91.3% neutrophils.  A chest radiograph demonstrated dextrocardia without other abnormalities  Abdominal ultrasonography showed a left-sided liver and gallbladder, and a right-sided spleen.  The appendix was not visualized.

DEXTROCARDIA

Case report An emergency operation was performed within 4

hours from his admission to the ED. At operation, a left paramedian incision was made, and an acutely inflamed appendix was removed from the caecum located in the left iliac fossa. A quick exploration revealed the liver to be on the left side and the viscera to be completely transposed. Recovery was uneventful

Appendicitis Appendicitis, including both right-sided and left-

sided, has an annual incidence of 1:1,000 population. The classical presentation includes the gradual onset of vague peri-umblical abdominal pain localizing to the right lower quadrant over approximately 24 h, associated with nausea, vomiting, anorexia, and diarrhea. This typical presentation occurs only in about 60% of patients.

Case report Situs inversus totalis is a rare anatomic anomaly

with an estimated incidence of 1:20,000 in the general population and an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. Visceral situs inversus can occur with or without dextrocardia. Situs inversus is caused by a clockwise rotation of the viscera during early embryonic life, resulting in a “mirror image” of the normal bowel

Case report  The diagnosis of acute appendicitis in situs inversus totalis

can be difficult because of abnormal pain localization.  Malrotation of the intraabdominal viscera is not accompanied by corresponding changes in the nervous system; and in about 31% of the patients the first signs of acute left-sided appendicitis are pain and rebound tenderness in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen.  This led to an incorrect incision in 45% of these cases; in 1/3 a second correct incision had to be made.

Case report Electrocardiogram, Radiographic studies, Computed tomography (CT) scan with oral and

intravenous contrast, Ultrasound, and Barium studies can help to diagnose situs inversus. In this case, we diagnosed it by a chest radiograph and an abdominal ultrasonography.

Case report 2  A twelve-year-old male presented to the ED with a 36-hour history

of periumbilical and right lower quadrant (RLQ) abdominal pain and anorexia.  The patient's white blood count (WBC) and differential were within normal limits and his abdominal films were unremarkable.  The physical exam was significant for guarding and rebound tenderness in the RLQ.  The patient was taken to the operating room for diagnostic laparoscopy and laparoscopic appendectomy. At that time, two cecal appendices were noted, both of which showed signs of inflammation without evidence of perforation or abscess. Laparoscopic appendectomies were performed without difficulty.  The final pathology report revealed acute appendicitis for both appendices.

Acute appendicities

Acute appendicitis Although rare, anomalies of the appendix do

occur and may have serious clinical and medicolegal implications.

Fewer than 100 cases have been reported in

the literature

Acute appendicitis Appendiceal anomalies include:  agenesis, duplication, triplication, anomalous location of a single appendix