Examination of a 54-Year-Old with Acute Upper Right Abdominal Pain course for GPs

This session uses a video clip to demonstrate how to carry out a focused, problem-based physical examination on a patient presenting with acute upper abdominal pain in primary care.

This session was reviewed by Khyati Bakhai and last updated in September 2018.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session you will be able to:

• List the sequence of an appropriate physical examination of a patient presenting with acute upper abdominal pain
• Perform a problem-based targeted examination to help make a diagnosis and exclude serious pathology
• Explain to the patient the reasons for your examination and obtain informed consent
• Conduct a patient-centred physical examination whilst explaining the process and findings to the patient

Upper abdominal pain that is suggestive of gallbladder disease is a common presentation in general practice. General Practitioners (GPs) need to be able to choose an appropriate problem-based examination to be able to make a diagnosis and exclude serious pathology. Diagnosis is normally made by careful history but examination is important.