Abdominal distension: causes and characteristics

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Abdominal distension: causes and characteristics
  • Fetus: smooth, firm mass, dull to percussion, arising out of the pelvis
  • Flatus: hyperresonant (there may be visible peristalsis if the accumulation of flatus is due to bowel obstruction)
  • Faeces: palpable in the flanks and across the epigastrium, firm and may be indentable, there may be multiple separate masses in the line of the colon
  • Fat
  • Fluid (ascites) fluid thrill, shifting dullness
  • Large abdominal masses: (massive hepatomegaly or splenomegaly, fibroids, polycystic kidneys, retroperitoneal sarcoma)

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