Aneurysm: Examination

A comprehensive clinical examination is the basis for selecting further diagnostic steps:

  • General physical examination – including blood pressure, pulse, body weight, height; further:
    • Inspection (viewing).
      • Skin, mucous membranes and sclerae
      • Abdomen (abdomen)
        • Shape of the abdomen?
        • Skin color? Skin texture?
        • Efflorescences (skin changes)?
        • Pulsations? Bowel movements?
        • Visible vessels?
        • Scars? Hernias (fractures)?
    • Auscultation (listening) of the carotid artery, heart and peripheral arterial vessels.
    • Auscultation of the lungs
    • Examination of the abdomen
      • Auscultation of the abdomen [vascular or stenotic sounds?, bowel sounds?]
      • Palpation (palpation) of abdomen, etc. (tenderness?, palpatory pain?, coughing pain?, guarding?, hernial orifices?, renal bearing palpation?) [pulsatile abdominal tumor in abdominal aortic aneurysm.]
  • Neurological examination – including testing of reflexes, sensitivity, motor skills.

Square brackets [ ] indicate possible pathological (pathological) physical findings.