Distended abdomen associated with absolute constipation (suggests bowel obstruction) Unintentional weight loss Blood in stool Ideas, concerns and expectations A key component of history taking involves exploring a patient’sideas,concerns, andexpectations(often referred to asICE) to gain insight into how...
Clinical features: asymptomatic or decompensated cirrhosis (jaundice, ascites, variceal bleeding), abdominal pain, early satiety, acute abdomen (tumour rupture), portal hypertension, paraneoplastic syndromes (polycythaemia, hypercalcaemia). Investigations: AFP (>200 ng/ml diagnostic), ultrasound (masses)...
History 💬 Counselling 💬 Examination 🦵 Procedures 💉 Interpretation 🤔 Emergency 🚑 Documentation ✍️ Prescribing 💊 Long cases ⏱️ Anatomy 🫁 Suggest a station 🙈 Diagnosis Random station History 💬 History 💬 Abdominal pain 01 A 34-year-old woman presents with abdominal...
Briefly palpate the abdomen for signs ofperitonismor other life-threatening pathology (e.g. abdominal aortic aneurysm). Palpate the calves fortendernesswhich may suggest a deep vein thrombosis. Temperature Review the patient’sbodytemperature:
CT abdomen: usually used in the acute setting and to assess for complications (especially extra-mural complications) MRI small bowel/pelvis: can be used for ‘disease mapping’; assesses the extent of inflammation in the small bowel or fistulae formation ...
Oedema:typically presents with swelling of the limbs (e.g. pedal oedema) or abdomen (i.e. ascites). There are many causes of oedema, but in the context of a cardiovascular examination OSCE station, congestive heart failure is the most likely culprit. ...