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Abdominal (GI) Examination

Abdominal & GIYear 2Year 3

The abdominal station starts at the hands and ends at the ankles. This checklist covers the stigmata of chronic liver disease, light and deep palpation of all nine regions, liver, spleen and kidney technique, percussion and shifting dullness.

Marking points
44
Run-through
~11m
Progress
Saved on your device only
1

Introduction

0/5
2

Exposure and positioning

0/2

  • Assess for jaundice, body habitus (obese or cachexia), mental state

4

Hands

0/6

    • Check for leukonychia (sign of hypoalbuminaemia), Terry's nails

  • Check for pallor

  • Look for bruising, petechiae, muscle wasting, scratch marks, spider naevi

6

Face

0/4

  • Check sclera for jaundice, conjunctiva for pallor (anaemia), Kayser-Fleischer rings (Wilson's disease), Xanthelasmata

  • Inspect and palpate for parotid and submandibular gland enlargement

  • Check teeth, gums, fetor hepaticus, aphthous ulceration, angular stomatitis, candida (thrush)

  • Look for leucoplakia, glossitis, geographical tongue

7

Neck and chest

0/4

  • Look for spider naevi, gynaecomastia in males

8

Abdomen

0/16

  • Check for scars, distension, swellings, hernias, caput medusae, pulsations, visible peristalsis, skin lesions, Cullen's and Grey-Turner's sign (acute pancreatitis), striae

  • Assess for guarding, rigidity, and rebound tenderness

  • Check for hepatomegaly

    • To check for ascites

    • Listen in all 4 quadrants. Absence for 4 mins suggests ileus.

  • Helps differentiate between intra-abdominal and abdominal wall masses

9

Groin/rectal

0/1
10

Others (optional / if mentioned in prompt)

0/4
0/44

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