PERISTALSIS, VISIBLE

Visible peristalsis may be either gastric or intestinal, but it is invariably associated with vomiting and other signs of intestinal obstruction.

In infants with pyloric obstruction, the vomiting is projectile, and the severe dehydration that follows, along with the right upper quadrant mass (a hypertrophied pylorus), helps to make the diagnosis.

In adults with pyloric obstruction, the enlarged stomach with peristaltic waves going downward from left to right and a succussion splash are useful diagnostic signs. A flat plate of the abdomen (demonstrating the dilated stomach) and significant electrolyte alteration of metabolic alkalosis and potassium depletion will help confirm the diagnosis, but an exploratory laparotomy will remove all doubt.

Intestinal peristalsis is also associated with vomiting. The peristalsis is transverse in small intestinal obstruction and vertical in large intestinal obstruction. The abdomen is markedly distended. Once again, a flat plate of the abdomen will confirm the diagnosis.

Book Source Details

• Book Title: Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs
• Author(s): R. Douglas Collins
• Year of Publication: 2003
• Copyright Details: Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs, Copyright © 2003 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Other Book Chapters Related to Visible peristalsis

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Copyright Details: Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs, Copyright © 2008 Williams & Wilkins.

More About Causes of Visible peristalsis

• Back to symptom: Visible peristalsis: Introduction (review 6 causes)
• Next Book Extract About Visible peristalsis: Bowel sounds, hyperactive (Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition))
• All Book Extracts: All Online Book Extracts for Visible peristalsis

More About This Book: Title: Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs Authors: R. Douglas Collins Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Copyright: 2003 ISBN: 0-7817-3805-9

 » Next page: Bowel sounds, hyperactive (Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition))

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