What is abdominal rebound and guarding? Abdominal guarding is the tensing of the abdominal wall muscles to guard inflamed organs within the abdomen from the pain of pressure upon them. The tensed muscles of the abdominal wall automatically go into spasm to keep the tender underlying tissues from being disturbed.
What causes abdominal guarding?
Ovarian vein thrombosis: a rare but not to be forgotten cause of abdominal pain. Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Centro Hospitalar de Entre o Douro e Vouga EPE, Santa Maria da Feira, Aveiro, Portugal. Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Centro Hospitalar de Entre o Douro e Vouga EPE, Santa Maria da Feira, Aveiro, Portugal.
What does rebound and guarding mean?
Rebound tenderness: abrupt increase in pain when an examiner suddenly releases compression of the abdominal wall. Caused by irritation of the receptors in. parietal peritoneum. Abdominal guarding: patient contraction of the abdominal wall muscles during palpation.
What is guarding of the abdomen?
When to refer a patient with an acute abdomen for an urgent surgical consultation
- Conditions involving major blood loss. Some acute abdominal conditions, such as bleeding, require an urgent surgical consultation. ...
- Perforated viscus. Another urgent condition is a perforated viscus such as a bowel perforation. ...
- Ischemic bowel disease. Ischemic bowel disease is also an urgent condition. ...
What is Abdominal guarding?
- Hematemesis (vomiting blood).
- Melena (black, tarry stools).
- Rectal bleeding.
- Inability to eat or drink.
- Fainting.
- Severe vomiting.
- Distended abdomen or increased abdominal girth.
- Severe hypotension.
- Shock.
What does rebound and guarding mean?
If a doctor finds that you do have rebound tenderness, they'll likely follow up with a few other tests to narrow down a diagnosis. These tests include: Guarding vs. rigidity test. Guarding involves voluntarily flexing your abdominal muscles, making your abdomen feel firm to the tough.
What is abdominal guarding or rebound tenderness?
Abdominal guarding is also known as 'défense musculaire'. Guarding is a characteristic finding in the physical examination for an abruptly painful abdomen (an acute abdomen) with inflammation of the inner abdominal (peritoneal) surface due, for example, to appendicitis or diverticulitis.
What is abdominal rebound?
Blumberg's sign (also referred to as rebound tenderness or the Shyotkin–Blumberg sign) is a clinical sign in which there is pain upon removal of pressure rather than application of pressure to the abdomen. (The latter is referred to simply as abdominal tenderness.) It is indicative of peritonitis.
What is muscle guarding in abdomen?
Abdominal guarding: Tensing of the abdominal wall muscles to guard inflamed organs within the abdomen from the pain of pressure upon them.
What is guarding in abdominal examination?
Guarding, in contrast, is a voluntary contraction of the abdominal wall musculature to avoid pain. Thus, guarding tends to be generalized over the entire abdomen, whereas rigidity involves only the inflamed area. Guarding can often be overcome by having the patient purposely relax the muscles; rigidity cannot be.
What does guarding mean medically?
Guarding is an involuntary response of the muscles. Guarding is a sign that your body is trying to protect itself from pain. It can be a symptom of a very serious and even life-threatening medical condition. If you have abdominal rigidity, you should see your doctor right away.
What causes abdominal rebound tenderness?
Rebound tenderness occurs when the tissue that lines the abdominal cavity (the peritoneum) is irritated, inflamed, or infected. This is called peritonitis.
What does abdominal guarding feel like?
Guarding of the abdomen With involuntary guarding, the muscles often remain in spasm throughout the respiratory cycle. It is similar to rigidity except that it is associated with palpation, while rigidity is not.
What is abdominal guarding?
Abdominal guarding. Abdominal guarding is the tensing of the abdominal wall muscles to guard inflamed organs within the abdomen from the pain of pressure upon them. The tensing is detected when the abdominal wall is pressed. Abdominal guarding is also known as 'défense musculaire ' . Guarding is a characteristic finding in ...
What is guarding in the abdomen?
Guarding is a characteristic finding in the physical examination for an abruptly painful abdomen (an acute abdomen) with inflammation of the inner abdominal (peritoneal) surface due, for example, to appendicitis or diverticulitis. The tensed muscles of the abdominal wall automatically go into spasm to keep the tender underlying tissues ...
How to tell if your abdomen is rigid or guarding?
Guarding vs. rigidity test. Guarding involves voluntarily flexing your abdominal muscles, making your abdomen feel firm to the tough. Rigidity is abdominal firmness that’s not related to flexing muscles. Your doctor can tell the difference by gently touching your abdomen and seeing if firmness decreases when you relax.
What does rebound tenderness mean?
If you do feel pain or discomfort, you have rebound tenderness. If you don’t feel anything, it helps your doctor to rule out peritonitis as a cause of your symptoms.
What is the Blumberg sign?
What is Blumberg’s sign? Rebound tenderness , also called Blumberg’s sign, is something your doctor might check for when diagnosing peritonitis. Peritonitis is the inflammation of the membrane on the inside of your abdominal wall (the peritoneum).
What causes peritonitis in the digestive tract?
Diverticulitis. Diverticulitis happens when small pouches in your intestines, called diverticula, get inflamed and infected. This can cause perforations in your digestive tract and make you vulnerable to peritonitis. Abdominal injury.
How do you know if you have rebound tenderness?
If you experience rebound tenderness, you might also have some of the following symptoms: stomach pain or tenderness , especially when you move. feelings of fullness or bloating, even if you haven’t eaten anything. fatigue. unusual thirst. constipation. reduced urination. loss of appetite. nausea.
What does a doctor do if you have peritonitis?
Percussion tenderness test. A doctor will gently but firmly tap on your abdomen to check for pain, discomfort, or tenderness. The abrupt tapping will likely cause pain if you have peritonitis. Cough test. You’ll be asked to cough while a doctor checks for any flinching or other signs of pain.
What is a sore on the stomach called?
A stomach ulcer is a sore that can appear on your stomach lining. A certain type of ulcer known as a perforated peptic ulcer can create an opening in the stomach lining, causing an infection in the abdominal cavity. Pancreatitis.
What is abdominal guarding?
abdominal guarding. n. A spasm of the abdominal wall muscles to protect inflamed abdominal viscera from pressure; it usually results from inflammation of the peritoneal surface as in appendicitis, diverticulitis, or generalized peritonitis, and is detectable on palpation. The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2007, ...
What is a spasm in the abdominal wall?
a spasm of abdominal wall muscles, detected on palpation, to protect inflamed abdominal viscera from pressure ; usually a result of inflammation of the parietal peritoneal surface as in appendicitis, diverticulitis, or generalized peritonitis.
What is the term for a spasm of the abdominal wall muscles?
ab·dom·i·nal guard·ing. A spasm of abdominal wall muscles, detected on palpation, to protect inflamed abdominal viscera from pressure; usually results from inflammation of the peritoneal surface as seen in appendicitis, diverticulitis, or generalized peritonitis.
