q28

Case 11

Note the position of his umbilicus. How do you use this knowledge in determining the etiology of his abdominal distension?

Answer

Case 11 answer (Abdomen)

The umbilicus should be equidistant from xiphisternum and symphysis pubis.

In him you can see the distance from xiphisternum to umbilicus is much larger.

Abdominal distension can be due to

• Obesity
• Pregnancy
• Ascites
• Flatus
• Tumors or Organomegaly

In Pregnancy and Pelvic tumors the distance between umbilicus and pubic symphysis will be wider

In Ascites, Flatus and Heptosplenomegaly distance from xiphisternum to umbilicus will be larger

In obesity it is equidistant

This patient has Ascites secondary to Cirrhosis.

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