Abdominal Guarding: Causes & Reasons

Possible Causes for 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. [en.wikipedia.org]

General symptoms Diffuse abdominal pain with abdominal guarding and/or rebound tenderness Nausea, and vomiting Fever and chills Possibly shoulder pain Ascites in SBP Sparse [amboss.com]

She was febrile (38°C), had involuntary abdominal guarding and rebound tenderness on physical examination. [scielo.isciii.es]

Biliary Peritonitis

[…] pain [ edit ] The main manifestations of peritonitis are acute abdominal pain, abdominal tenderness and abdominal guarding, which are exacerbated by moving the peritoneum [en.wikipedia.org]

Clinically, the patient presented with a localized abdominal guarding; Murphy’s sign was positive. [websurg.com]

Abdominal examination revealed mild abdominal distension, general abdominal guarding and rigidity in the right upper quadrant. [panafrican-med-journal.com]

Acute Peritonitis

Abdominal Rebound tenderness with guarding May have referred pain to shoulder Rigid, distended abdomen Bowel sounds decrease to absent Acute Care Management Nursing Diagnosis [nursingcrib.com]

Other symptoms [ edit ] Diffuse abdominal rigidity (" abdominal guarding ") is often present, especially in generalized peritonitis Fever Sinus tachycardia Development of [en.wikipedia.org]

Mesenteric Artery Thrombosis

Physical examination documented tachycardia and a soft, non-rigid abdomen with voluntary guarding. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Later, as necrosis develops, signs of peritonitis appear, with marked abdominal tenderness, guarding, rigidity, and no bowel sounds. [merckmanuals.com]

As the disease progresses and the bowel infarcts and the patient will develop abdominal distension with guarding, rebound, and absence of bowel sounds. [cdemcurriculum.com]

Abdominal Injury

[…] tenderness and guarding Altered Level of Consciousness and suspected Abdominal Trauma Negative abdominal exam but high level of suspicion based on mechanism of injury Bony [fpnotebook.com]

There are also the following abdominal injury symptoms: Abdominal pain and tenderness Abdominal distension Rigidity to the abdomen Lack of bowel sounds Abdominal guarding [autoaccident.com]

[…] shock (coldness, dizziness, weakness) Objective Signs: blood in vomit, faeces, or urine, abdominal rigidity and guarding, signs of shock (low BP, tachycardia, tachypnoea, [thesportsphysiotherapist.com]

Perforated Peptic Ulcer

This reflex is known as abdominal guarding. A perforated ulcer frequently also causes swelling of the abdomen, known as abdominal distention. [livestrong.com]

Physical examination detected guarding of the abdominal wall. [gynecolsurg.springeropen.com]

Abdominal guarding and distention both cause the area to feel rigid on examination. Light tapping on the abdomen will often produce a hollow, drum-like sound. [livestrong.com]

Perforated Viscus

Some of the clinical manifestations that lead to suspect AAP are absence of bowel sounds, bilious vomiting, involuntary abdominal guarding, rebound tenderness, abdominal rigidity [scielo.org.co]

Abdominal exam shows exquisite tenderness to palpation with rebound and guarding. Which of the following radiographs is most likely to be present in this patient? [medbullets.com]

Abdominal examination revealed marked distension, diffuse tenderness and involuntary guarding with absent bowel sounds. [ispub.com]

Acute Cholecystitis

Abdominal guarding in response to deep palpation is common. Up to 15 percent of patients with acute cholecystitis are jaundiced. [aafp.org]

guarding, a positive Murphy’s sign, and leukocytosis. [medical-institution.com]

Abdominal guarding is noted. WHAT ARE THE CLUES? You suspect that Ms. Lawson has acute cholecystitis. [nursingcenter.com]

Splenic Rupture

[…] pain, especially in the left upper quadrant ( LUQ ), possible abdominal guarding Kehr's sign : referred pain in the left shoulder Ballance's sign: dullness on percussion [amboss.com]

Exam demonstrates abdominal wall rigidity, involuntary guarding, and tenderness on light percussion. Bedside sonography shows evidence for hemoperitoneum. [medbullets.com]

Right quadrant/left abdominal pain Left shoulder pain Severe or mild pain Rebound tenderness Muscle guarding Nausea Profuse sweating or hot and cold sensations Abdominal distension [ksi.uconn.edu]

Perforated Appendix

Physical examination was significant for abdominal guarding and rebound tenderness in the right lower quadrant. Laboratory evaluation revealed leukocytosis. [meddean.luc.edu]

The pain is persistent and is aggravated by motion, causing the patient to bend over and tense the abdominal muscles (muscle guarding). [medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com]

Intestinal Infarction

[…] of patients recover and do not progress beyond this phase Paralytic phase Shock phase Acute abdomen with abdominal guarding and rebound tenderness Signs of septic shock A [amboss.com]

Later, as necrosis develops, signs of peritonitis appear, with marked abdominal tenderness, guarding, rigidity, and no bowel sounds. [msdmanuals.com]

[…] classic case of ischemic colitis is a patient who presents with bloody diarrhea and severe abdominal pain after an abdominal aortic aneurysm repair! [amboss.com]

Mesenteric Infarction

80% of patients recover and do not progress beyond this phase Paralytic phase Shock phase Acute abd omen with abdominal guarding and rebound tenderness Signs of septic shock [amboss.com]

Examination  normal abdominal examination in the face of severe abdominal pain.  No signs of peritonitis.  abdominal tenderness ,guarding, rigidity.  These signs develop [slideshare.net]

As the disease progresses and the bowel infarcts and the patient will develop abdominal distension with guarding, rebound, and absence of bowel sounds. [cdemcurriculum.com]

Acute Emphysematous Cholecystitis

[…] pain and abdominal wall guarding. [intechopen.com]

[…] of upper abdominal muscles on the right side. [msdmanuals.com]

Patient had tachycardia with generalized guarding and rigidity on per abdominal examination. Abdominal X-ray showed presence of dilated small bowel loops. [bhj.org.in]

Meckel Diverticulitis

guarding and distension, vomiting, obstipation Causes: Volvulus (with persistent fibrous band), torsion, foreign body, Littre’s Hernia (inclusion in hernia sac), inversion [learningradiology.com]

Per abdominal examination revealed guarding with right iliac fossa tenderness. On auscultation bowel sounds were absent. [mjdrdypu.org]

On physical exam, the patient is irritable with guarding of the right lower quadrant of the abdomen. [medbullets.com]

Ruptured Ectopic Pregnancy

During your physical assessment, you note abdominal tenderness and guarding. What's your assessment? Based on Mrs. [journals.lww.com]

[…] tenderness, rebounding, or guarding Cullen sign: blue discoloration around umbilicus suggesting retroperitoneal hemorrhage uterine enlargement fever orthostatic hypotension [sharinginhealth.com]

[…] rebound tenderness and guarding). [teachmeobgyn.com]

Liver Hematoma

Abdominal examination presented tenderness, guarding and rebound in all quadrants. [scopemed.org]

Ultrasonography and general abdominal computed tomography showed subcapsular liver hematoma and subdiaphragmatic free air. The patient was operated due to acute abdomen. [scopemed.org]

[…] with endoscopic sphincterotomy, balloon and basket. 12 hours after being discharged, patient admitted to the emergency service presenting low blood pressure, fatigue and abdominal [scopemed.org]

Gallbladder Perforation

There was generalized abdominal tenderness, guarding and rigidity, and free fluid in the abdomen. [tropicalgastro.com]

Patients with type 1 gallbladder perforation usually present with signs of peritoneal irritation such as extensive abdominal tenderness, guarding, and rebound tenderness. [archintsurg.org]

There was generalized tenderness and guarding on abdominal examination. [jiaps.com]

Appendicitis

[…] pain[edit] The main manifestations of peritonitis are acute abdominal pain, abdominal tenderness, abdominal guarding, rigidity, which are exacerbated by moving the peritoneum [en.wikipedia.org]

CASE REPORT A 13-year-old Hispanic female presented at the emergency room with anorexia and left upper-quadrant abdominal pain with involuntary guarding. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Particularly worrisome signs, such as abdominal rigidity or guarding, can be a sign of ruptured appendicitis, which is a surgical emergency. How is it diagnosed? [columbiasurgery.org]

Subcapsular Liver Hematoma

Abdominal examination presented tenderness, guarding and rebound in all quadrants. [scopemed.org]

Ultrasonography and general abdominal computed tomography showed subcapsular liver hematoma and subdiaphragmatic free air. The patient was operated due to acute abdomen. [scopemed.org]

Intestinal Obstruction

[…] of patients recover and do not progress beyond this phase Paralytic phase Shock phase Acute abdomen with abdominal guarding and rebound tenderness Signs of septic shock A [amboss.com]

*Patients with bowel obstruction may have abdominal tenderness, however should not have features of guarding or rebound tenderness, unless ischaemia is developing Differential [teachmesurgery.com]

PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONPHYSICAL EXAMINATION INSPECTION ABDOMINAL DISTENTION, SCARS, VISIBLE PERISTALSIS. [slideshare.net]

Female Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Abdominal exam: tenderness, guarding, rigidity Pelvic exam cervical motion tenderness with/without uterine or adnexal tenderness (classic) PID is usually a clinical diagnosis [sharinginhealth.ca]

Signs of peritonitis, such as abdominal rigidity, distention, and guarding, need to be reported immediately so that medical or surgical intervention can be initiated. [medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com]

Symptoms typically include progressive lower abdominal pain with guarding and rebound tenderness, fever, copious purulent cervical discharge, nausea and vomiting, malaise, [medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com]

Tubo-Ovarian Abscess

Symptoms of TOA rupture include signs of sepsis (hypotension, tachycardia, tachypnea) as well as an acute abdominal examination (rebound / guarding). [visualdx.com]

Patients’ records were reviewed for the following signs and symptoms of PID on presentation: lower abdominal pain, fever, abnormal vaginal discharge, rebound or guarding on [hindawi.com]

Abdominal exam shows mild bilateral lower abdominal tenderness without guarding, and speculum exam shows small amount of blood (patient is on her menses), as well as cervical [emdocs.net]

Ovarian Cyst

This may occur if hemorrhage or peritonitis ensues; a distended abdomen may be found on abdominal examination Cachexia and weight loss, lymphadenopathy in the neck, shortness [web.archive.org]

[…] may result from some complications of ovarian cysts, such as ovarian torsion [2] Adnexal or cervical motion tenderness Diffusely tender abdomen with rebound tenderness and guarding [web.archive.org]

Perforated Diverticulum

Physical examination showed abdominal rigidity, guarding to palpation in the peri-umbilical area and right lower quadrant in these 15 patients. [medsci.org]

On physical examination, the patient was tender to palpation in the right upper abdominal quadrant with associated rebound tenderness and guarding. [synapse.koreamed.org]

Abdominal exam is notable for left lower quadrant tenderness to palpation without rebound or guarding. [medbullets.com]

Acute Pancreatitis

On abdominal exam, he has involuntary guarding and tenderness to palpation in the right upper quadrant and epigastric regions. [medbullets.com]

[…] examination Abdominal tenderness, distention, guarding Ileus with reduced bowel sounds and tympany on percussion Ascites Skin changes (rare) Cullen's sign : periumbilical [amboss.com]

Marked epigastric tenderness with voluntary and involuntary guarding +/- rigidity, Abdominal distension, Reduced bowel sound, Palpable pseudocyst (sometimes) Uncommon signs [epomedicine.com]

Pyelonephritis

Lumbar tenderness and abdominal guarding is mostly always present. Suprapubic tenderness will be usually present. [symptoma.com]

The patient looks ill and there is commonly pain on firm palpation of one or both kidneys and moderate suprapubic tenderness without guarding. [patient.info]

Abdominal examination will show costovertebral angle tenderness which can be either unilateral or bilateral. [symptoma.com]

Perforated Diverticulitis

She was found to have severe tenderness and guarding in the left lower quadrant and her abdominal CT scan showed severe sigmoid diverticulitis with micro-perforation and significant [surgicaloasis.com]

During your quick, focused assessment, you note abdominal distension, hypoactive bowel sounds, and involuntary guarding. [journals.lww.com]

Abdominal examination revealed tenderness and guarding in right iliac fossa (RIF) and right lumber region. [casesjournal.biomedcentral.com]

Fitz-Hugh-Curtis Syndrome

Abdominal exam: Right upper quadrant tenderness, rebound tenderness, guarding, or a silent abdomen. [statpearls.com]

Diverticulitis of the Colon

Her physical examination was significant for right-sided abdominal tenderness to palpation with voluntary guarding but without evidence of peritonitis. [sages.org]

Hemodynamic instability, abdominal rigidity and diffuse guarding are seen in patients with free perforation and generalized peritonitis. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

She had a positive Blumberg's sign, but her abdomen was otherwise soft with no distention or guarding. [internationalsurgery.org]

Ectopic Pregnancy

In absolute emergency situations, a patient may present with severe tenderness, abdominal rigidity, involuntary guarding and signs of hypovolemic shock as well. [symptoma.com]

Findings such as hypotension and marked abdominal tenderness with guarding and rebound tenderness suggest a leaking or ruptured ectopic pregnancy. [aimu.us]

[…] tenderness or diffuse tenderness with or without rebound or guarding, depending on extent of hemorrhage FAST exam (for free fluid) Laboratory evaluation Quantitative pregnancy [coreem.net]