Intestinal Infarction (Mesenteric Infarction): 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 (white part of the eye).
      • Gait (fluid, limping).
      • Body posture (upright, bent over, gentle posture).
      • 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.
    • Auscultation of the lungs
    • Examination of the abdomen
      • Auscultation of the abdomen [vascular or stenotic sounds?, bowel sounds?]
      • Percussion (tapping) of the abdomen.
        • Meteorism (flatulence): hypersonoric tapping sound.
        • Attenuation of tapping sound due to enlarged liver or spleen, tumor, urinary retention?
      • Palpation of the abdomen (tenderness?, tapping pain?, coughing pain?, guarding tension?, hernial orifices?, renal bearing tapping pain?).