Site Map	Examine the Abdomen

• Introduce yourself and check the patient's identity
• Establish rapport with patient
• Ask permission to examine & explain examination
• Ensure adequate privacy for the examination
• Position patient and expose appropriately maintaining patient dignity
• Examine the hands
  • Nails
    • Clubbing
    • Koilonychia
    • Leuconychia
  • Palms
    • Dupuytren's contracture
    • Palmar Erythema
  • Liver flap
  • Pulse & blood pressure
• Examine the eyes
  • Jaundice
  • Pallor
  • Xanthelasma
  • Corneal Arcus
  • Kayser-Fleischer rings
• Examine the face
  • Telangiectasia
• Examine the mouth
  • Dehydration
  • Glossitis
  • Ulcers
  • Angular Stomatitis
• Examine the neck
  • Include supraclavicular nodes
• Examine the chest
  • Spider naevi
  • Gynaecomastia
• Inspect the abdomen
  • Asks to cough looking for hernias
• Ask if anywhere hurts
• Palpate generally
• Palpate each quadrant systematically
• Palpate and Percuss
  • Liver
  • Spleen
  • Kidneys
  • Bladder
  • Ascites
    • Shifting dullness
    • Fluid thrill
• Feel for abdominal aorta
• Auscultate bowel sounds
• Examine inguinoscrotal areas
• Check femoral pulses
• Suggest
  • Digital rectal examination
  • Urine dipstick
  • Temperature
• Assist in replacing the patient's clothing
• Acknowledge patient concerns
• Encourage patient's questions and deal with them appropriately
• Appropriate summary and analysis of findings

	Any comments or feedback please contact me by email: Tom Williams