Visible Peristalsis
August 18th, 2017
Overview
Look For
- Waves of movement across the abdomen, often starting in the left upper quadrant and moving toward the right lower quadrant.
Significance
- Mechanical intestinal obstruction.
Causes of Visible Peristalsis
- Hernia
- Diverticular disease
- Tumour - colorectal, lymphoma
- Adhesions - congenital, surgery, inflammation
- Strictures - Crohn's, surgery, radiotherapy
- Foreign body - swallowed material, bezoar, parasite
- Intussusception
- Volvulus
Non-mechanical causes of obstruction such as paralytic ileus and Ogilvie's syndrome will not result in visible peristalsis as gut motility is reduced.
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