Incisional Hernia (Scar Hernia): Examination

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

  • General physical examination – including blood pressure, pulse, body weight, height; furthermore:
    • Inspection (viewing).
      • Skin and mucous membranes
      • Abdomen (abdomen) [inspection while lying down and standing].
        • Shape of abdomen? [non-sided abdominal shape?]
        • Skin color? Skin texture? Redness in the area of the hub?
        • Efflorescences (skin lesions)?
        • Pulsations? Bowel movements?
        • Visible vessels?
        • Visible swelling/protrusion/nodes in the area of the surgical scar?
    • Auscultation (listening) of the heart.
    • Auscultation of the lungs [due topossible cause: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)].
    • Examination of the abdomen (abdomen)
      • Percussion (tapping) of the abdomen
        • Meteorism (flatulence): hypersonoric tapping sound.
      • Palpation (palpation) of the abdomen (abdomen) (tenderness?, tapping pain?, coughing pain?, defensive tension?, hernial orifices? if yes: manual reduction (restoration of normal position) possible?, renal bearing tapping pain?)

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