Physical Assessment Gastrointestinal System

Health History AssessmentIf GI symptoms cause the patient pain or discomfort, you will need to move quickly through the assessment. However, any GI complaint must incorporate a health history, even if extremely brief. Assess the following areas in the health history:Pain: Perform a pain assessment to include specific questions about when the pain occurs – before meals, after meals, in the middle of the night, and any food associations. Specifically ask about heartburn and problems with a sore mouth, tongue, or throat.Teeth/Gums: Ask about problems with bleeding gums, dental caries, abscesses, and use of dentures and partial plates. Obtain date of last dental exam and results if possible.Throat: Ask about any hoarseness or voice changes that might indicate the presence of a tumor, any difficulty swallowing, and the presence or absence of tonsils.Appetite: Assess any changes in appetite, food intolerances, and the presence of nausea and/or vomiting.Lower GI: Assess for problems with eructation, flatulence, hemorrhoids, hernia.The patient should be questioned about the use of laxatives and antacids and the color, frequency, and amount of stools. Assess previous GI disease history such as cholecystitis, inflammatory bowel disease, or cancer.

Physical AssessmentMouth and Throat: Assess the mouth and throat for sores, condition of teeth and gums, irritations, or any other conditions that could affect the intake of food and liquid. Lift the tongue and look under it for any tumors or lesions. Assess for any unusual breath odor.Abdomen: Inspect for contour, symmetry, abdominal aorta pulsation, and distention. Do not touch the abdomen during the inspection or peristalsis can be stimulated which will provide false data during the auscultation portion of the assessment. Instruct the patient to not touch the abdomen during the inspection phase.

Abdominal distention can be caused by three factors:1. Obesity – Abdomen is soft and rounded with a sunken umbilicus.2. Ascites – Skin is shiny and glistening with an everted umbilicus. Veins are dilated and prominent (more visible in thin, malnourished skin).3. Obstruction – There may be visible, marked peristalsis; restlessness; lying with knees flexed; grimacing facial expression; and uneven respirations.

AuscultationBowel Sounds: Bowel sounds are best heard with the diaphragm portion of the stethoscope. Note the character (high-pitched, gurgling, clicking, etc.) and frequency. Normally the sounds occur intermittently at 5-15 times per minute. Judge if the sounds are normal, hypoactive or hyperactive. You must listen for 5 minutes to each quadrant before deciding that bowel sounds are absent (20 minutes is unrealistic to expect someone to stand and listen for bowel sounds so we often rely on the patient’s other signs and symptoms). If the patient is experiencing an obstruction due to an ileus (absence of peristalsis), bowel sounds will be absent as there is no enervation by the nervous system to the area. If the patient is experiencing a mechanical obstruction (feces, volvulus, tumor, etc.), the bowel sounds can alter between being hyperactive (as the gut tries to push feces around the obstruction) or absent (as the gut rests and prepares for the next peristaltic wave; the patient will also complain of pain when bowel sounds are heard). Peritonitis presents with absent bowel sounds.Vascular sounds: Vascular sounds are best heard with the bell of the stethoscope. Assess all four quadrants listening for bruits (whooshing, blowing sounds that represent impaired circulation within an artery or an aneurysm). An aortic pulsation may be heard over the left upper quadrant in the presence of hypertension, aortic insufficiency, or aortic aneurysm.

PercussionTympani: Tympani should predominate as air rises to surface of the abdominal cavity.Hyperresonance: Will be heard in the presence of gaseous distention.Dullness: Percussed over a distended bladder, adipose tissue, fluid, or a mass in the abdomen.Palpation: Prior to palpating the abdomen, have the patient bend the knees and relax the abdominal muscles. Ask the patient to point to any painful or tender areas. Save those areas to palpate last so the patient becomes more accustomed to your touch and does not guard throughout the exam. Lightly palpate the abdomen by quadrants. Note any muscle guarding, rigidity, tenderness, or masses.Rectal Area: Examine the external rectal area for the presence of external hemorrhoids, masses or evidence of inflammation.

Age Related Changes of the Gastrointestinal SystemSaliva secretion decreases by as much as 66% and salivary ptyalin is reduced, inhibiting the digestion of complex carbohydrates. Tooth loss and gum disease often make nutritional intake difficult. Peristalsis in the esophagus is no longer triggered with each swallow and there is delayed entry of food into the stomach causing a premature feeling of fullness. Weakness around the gastroesophageal sphincter can cause heartburn and reflux. Gastric acid secretion reduces significantly. Constipation is common due to decreased intake and decreased intestinal motility.