Abdominal assessment

• What are the four quadrants of the abdomen?

  right upper, left upper, right lower, left lower
• whats included in the right upper quadrant in the abdomen?


  - liver

  - gallbladder

  - right kidney upper pole

  - plyorus
• whats in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen.


  right kidney lower pole

  cecum

  appendix

  right ovary

  right ureter
• What is in the left upper quadrant?

  stomach, spleen, left lobe of liver, body of pancreas, left kidney and adrenal, splenic flexure of colon, part of transverse and descending colon
• Whats in the Left Lower Quadrant?


  Part of descending colon

  Sigmoid colon

  Left ovary and tube

  Left ureter
• what are causes of pain in the abdomen?


  - inflammation

  - perforation

  - obstruction

  - infarction

  - intra - abdominal haemorrhage
• whats to look out for elderly people with abdomen pain


  alcohol dependent

  immunosuppressed

  atypical presentations
• what organ does belching affect and what can it mean


  - stomach

  - gastric distention.
• what organs does eating affect and what can it cause

  stomach, duodenum

  - peptic ulcer
• what organs does vomiting affect and what can it cause


  - stomach and duodenum.

  - pyloric obstruction
• what organs does leaning forward affect and what can it cause


  - retroperitoneal structures

  - pancreatic cancer

  - pancreatitis
• what organs does flexion of knees affect and what can it cause


  - peritoneum

  - peritonitis
• what organs does flexion of the right knee affect and what can it cause


  - right psoas muscle

  - appendicitis
• what organs does flexion of left thigh affect and what can it cause

  left psoas muscle

  diverticulitis
• what does pain in the shoulder tip and fallopian tube indicate

  ruptured ectopic.
• what are upper GI symptoms

  heartburn, reflux, nausea, ulcers, jaundice, vomit
• how is jaundice caused.

  high levels of bilirubin, result of the liver or gallbladder insufficiency.
• what are mouth ulcers a result off


  - b12/ folate deficiency or Crohn's disease.
• what are things to look out for in vomit?


  - green bile

  - haematemesis

  - coffee grounds
• What is haematemesis?


  vomiting blood
• what dysphagia


  difficulty swallowing
• What's odynophagia?


  painful swallowing
• What are the 6F's of abdominal distention?


  Fat

  Fluid

  flatis

  faeces

  foetus

  fulminant mass
• what are some lower GI symptoms:


  distension

  diarrhoea

  constipation

  steatorrhea

  melaena

  haematochezia
• what is steatorrhea and what does it indicate?


  fatty stools, float

  - pancreatitis
• what is melaena and what can it be a indication of

  bloody black stool.

  - major GI haemorrhage.
• what are some associated symptoms with lower GI symptoms.


  - anorexia

  - weight loss

  - fatigue

  - confusion

  - pruritus
• what to ask when assessing urinary symptoms?


  - pain

  - change in colour

  - smell

  - frequency
• what to ask as general demeanor


  - myalgia

  - fever

  - sleep habits

  - energy levels.
• what history to ask about stools?


  - any diarrhoea

  constipation

  change in stools
• what history to ask about vomit

  frequency

  appearance
• what history to ask about sexual history

  - sexual history

  - menstrual cycle

  - pregnancy
• what family history questions should you ask.


  any history of diabetes, gall stones, cancers
• what social history questions to ask?


  exercise, tobacco, recent travel, job.
• what are potential long term previous conditions.


  GI conditions, IBS, ulcers.

  - surgeries or trauma
• what to ask regarding medication for History


  - do you take any regular medications

  - new medications

  - allergies
• What is viral gastroenteritis?


  inflammation and irritation of stomach and small intestines
• symptoms of viral gastroenteritis


  -watery diarrhea

  -vomiting

  -fever

  -chills

  -abdominal pain
• what is the treatment for viral gastroenteritis?


  - self limited,ensure rehydration.

  - give IV fluids if severe.
• which antibiotics to not give for viral gastroenteritis?

  - antidiarrheal agents.

  - anti emetics