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 (white part of the eye).
- 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 heart.
- Palpation (palpation) of the abdomen (pressure pain?, knocking pain?, coughing pain?, defensive tension?, hernial orifices?, renal bearing knocking pain?) [meteorism (bloated abdomen); hyperperistalsis/increased movements of the intestines; possible sequelae: Cholangitis (bile duct inflammation); Pancreatitis (pancreatitis)]
- Inspection (viewing).
