Basic Examination of the Abdomen

General Inspection

• Jaundice
• Distension
• Pain
• Discomfort
• Purpura
• Spider naevi (more than 5)

Hands

• Clubbing
• Palmar Erythema
• Dupuytren's contracture
• Flapping tremor
• Leuconychia
• Koilonychia

Face

• Jaundice - sclera

Mouth

• Angular stomatitis
• Glossitis
• Ulcers - herpetic
• Telangiectasia
• Candidiasis
• Gingivitis

Chest and Axillae

• Gynaecomastia
• Hair loss
• Spider naevi

Abdomen

• Distension - fluid, fat, flatus, foetus, faeces
• Herniae
• Scars
• Striae
• Distended veins
• Pulsations

Palpation

• Superficial and deep palpation
  

• 9 regions - R. hypochondrium, L. hypochondrium, Epigastric, R. lumbar, L. lumbar, Umbilical, R. iliac fossa, L. iliac fossa, Suprapubic
• Guarding
• Tenderness (rebound = peritonitis)
  
• Masses
• Enlarged organs
• Abdominal aorta - aneurysm
• Ballot kidneys

Percusssion

• Enlarged organs
• Shifting dullness

Auscultation

• Bowel douns - absent? tinkling?
• Abdominal aortic bruits
• Renal bruits

Back

• Inspection - spider naevi, scars etc.
  
• Cervical lymphadenopathy
• Renal tenderness

Other Tests

• Digital Rectal Examination
• External genitalia
• Herniae
• Distended bladder?
• Obs chart
• Urine dipstix