What are bulging flanks?
Bulging flanks refers to the outward bulging of the sides of the abdomen.
How do you document abdominal percussion?
Documentation of a basic, normal abdominal exam should look something along the lines of the following: Abdomen is soft, symmetric, and non-tender without distention. There are no visible lesions or scars. The aorta is midline without bruit or visible pulsation.
What are the signs of ascites?
These are symptoms of ascites:
- Swelling in the abdomen.
- Weight gain.
- Sense of fullness.
- Bloating.
- Sense of heaviness.
- Nausea or indigestion.
- Vomiting.
- Swelling in the lower legs.
What causes flank bulging?
Abdominal flank bulging is an unsightly and painful complication that can occur after a lateral retroperitoneal approach to the thoracolumbar spine. The most significant intercostal nerve contributing to the anterolateral abdominal wall arises from T11 and T12.
What can cause a bulge on your side?
A person with an abdominal lump may notice an area of swelling or a bulge that protrudes from the abdominal area. Possible causes include hernias, lipomas, hematomas, undescended testicles, and tumors. Not all abdominal lumps require treatment, but some may need surgery.
Does hydronephrosis cause flank pain?
Hydronephrosis may or may not cause symptoms. The main symptom is pain, either in the side and back (known as flank pain), abdomen or groin. Other symptoms can include pain during urination, other problems with urination (increased urge or frequency, incomplete urination, incontinence), nausea and fever.
How do you assess a distended stomach?
Palpation and percussion are used to evaluate ascites. A rounded, symmetrical contour of the abdomen with bulging flanks is often the first clue. Palpation of the abdomen in the patient with ascites will often demonstrate a doughy, almost fluctuant sensation.
How do I know if I have fat or ascites?
Tests like ultrasound, CT, or paracentesis (test and/or treatment for ascites fluid or fluid removal) usually diagnose ascites in contrast to a clinical diagnosis of belly fat that does not produce detectable abdominal fluid.
What is mild ascites?
Mild ascites is hard to notice, but severe ascites leads to abdominal distension. People with ascites generally will complain of progressive abdominal heaviness and pressure as well as shortness of breath due to mechanical impingement on the diaphragm.
How are flanks examined in the workup of an abdominal exam?
With the patient supine, the examiner visually observes whether the flanks are pushed outward (presumably by large amounts of ascitic fluid) Note: A patient with an obese abdomen may also have flanks that bulge, although the fat of obesity extends further posterior than fluid in the peritoneum. The patient is examined in the supine position.
What does positive flank dullness mean?
Flank dullness is positive if there is a horizontal border between dullness in the flank area and resonance (or tympany) in the periumbilical area. (3) Shifting dullness. Shifting dullness describes flank dullness that shifts as the patient changes position, usually by rolling on to one side.
How is flank dullness diagnosed in cervical spondylolisthesis?
Percuss across the abdomen as for flank dullness, with the point of transition from tympany to dullness noted. The patient then is rolled on his/her side away from the examiner, and percussion from the umbilicus to flank area is repeated.
How do you perform a percussive maneuver for flank pain?
This maneuver is performed with the patient supine. Percuss across the abdomen as for flank dullness, with the point of transition from tympany to dullness noted. The patient then is rolled on his/her side away from the examiner, and percussion from the umbilicus to flank area is repeated.