Significance of Bowels Sounds in Acute Abdomen | ||
| Medical Journal of Babylon | ||
| Article 1, Volume 9, Issue 1, March 2012, Pages 250-253 | ||
| Author | ||
| Shabander T. Fathulla | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Acute abdomen refers to a group of medical conditions in which accurate and early diagnosis must executed. Following to diagnosis, proper surgical or medical treatment modalities must be applied. Auscultation comes from the Latin word auscultare (to listen). The word was introduced to moden medical literature by René-Théophile-Hyacinthe Laënnec in 1819. The syndrome of acute abdominal pain generates a large number of hospital visits and may affect the very young, the very old, either sex, and all socioeconomic groups. Bowel sounds are caused by the movement of free gas in the digestive tract. Therefore, it reflects the gastrointestinal motility as long as the amount of gas in the guts remains the same. Main production of bowel sounds belong to stomach where the jejunum seems to generate very few sounds of long duration. The colon distinguishes by the sounds of high amplitude, short and with a frequency around 100 Hz. Auscultation of the abdomen gives information about the presence or absence of bowel sounds. A quiet abdomen indicates ileus. Hyperactive bowel sounds may occur in gastroenteritis. Periods of quiet interrupted by the onset of high-pitched hyperactive bowel sounds characterize the peristaltic rushes of mechanical small bowel obstruction. Evaluation of bowel sounds requires careful auscultation for several minutes. During auscultation of the abdomen, the examiner can effectively evaluate tenderness and guarding further by palpating gently with the stethoscope. By approaching the abdominal pain patient in a systematic fashion, the physician can improve his or her performance in evaluating the patient in a safe and efficient manner without extensive or redundant tests | ||
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