nursing journal article physical trauma cullen sign

#Nursing journal article physical trauma cullen sign skin#

It is important to begin with the general examination of the abdomen with the patient in a completely supine position.

The abdominal examination consists of four basic components: inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation. The presence of the Virchow’s node may indicate the possibility of gastric or breast cancer.

It is important to palpate for lymphadenopathy in the neck and the supraclavicular region. The examiner should stand behind the patient to examine the neck. The smell of the patient’s breath is itself indicative of different disorders, for example, fetor hepaticus, a distinctive smell indicating liver disorder, or a fruity breath, pointing towards ketonemia. A pale, smooth, and shiny tongue indicate iron deficiency, and a beefy, red tongue is seen in vitamin B-12 and folate deficiency. The presence of oral ulcers may indicate Crohn’s disease or celiac disease. The oral cavity should be examined in detail. Angular cheilitis, inflammatory lesions around the corner of the mouth indicate iron or vitamin deficiency which may be due to malabsorption. Peri-orbital plaques due to lipid deposition called xanthelasmas may be present in chronic cholestasis. The ring can be best viewed under a slit-lamp. Additional findings may be present for example, a Kayser-Fleischer ring, a brownish-green ring at the periphery of the cornea may be seen in patients of Wilson’s disease due to excess copper being deposited at the Descemet’s membrane. The eyes should be examined for scleral icterus and conjunctival pallor. The examination should begin by asking the patient to look straight ahead. The presence of an arteriovenous fistula indicates renal replacement therapy and should be inspected and palpated. The hands and arms should be examined for evidence of intravenous drug use, which may be present as injection site marks. The radial pulse should be examined, and the blood pressure should be recorded. A non-specific tremor may also indicate alcohol withdrawal. A flapping tremor (asterixis) indicates hepatic encephalopathy and may be present in cirrhosis.

The outstretched hands are observed for the presence of tremors. The hands should be examined for the presence of pallor and jaundice. These may include catheters, pulse oximeter, oxygen mask and tubing, nasogastric tube, central lines, and total parenteral nutrition lines. It is important to note any medical equipment for monitoring and/or treatment attached to the patient or present in the bed space.

#Nursing journal article physical trauma cullen sign skin#

The general inspection can give multiple clues regarding the patient's diagnosis for example, yellowish discoloration of the skin (jaundice) indicates a possible hepatic abnormality. This should be performed at the foot end of the bed. During most clinical examinations, the exposure is from the nipples to the lower abdomen.īegin with the general inspection of the patient and then proceed to the abdominal area. The Journal of Trauma Nursing is released six times a year - four printed issues are mailed to subscribers, and two issues are distributed as online editions.The ideal exposure is from the nipples to the knees, but this is sometimes not practically possible. JTN is intended for all professionals involved in trauma care, from first responder through rehabilitation. JTN focuses on innovations, trends and important issues that have an impact on the trauma patient and trauma nursing. JTN's mission is to provide original articles and information that reflect the practice of trauma nursing in the areas of clinical practice, education, health policy and administration, and research. Register for an account, subscribe to the RSS feed, sign up for eTOC, etc. If you experience problems accessing JTN online, please contact the STN webmaster at – Take advantage of all JTN Online has to offer. Members: login to the STN website and then click here to access JTN Online Members receive a bi-monthly subscription to the journal as well as online access to the entire journal content, the ability to print articles and search archives. It is the official publication of the Society of Trauma Nurses. The Journal of Trauma Nursing (JTN) is the only peer reviewed journal dedicated to trauma nursing.