Palpation is a medical method for examining a patient. It is produced as a preventive and therapeutic measure. The doctor studies the patient’s pulse, controls how various internal organs respond to touch. Research has been common since the 19th century. Nowadays, this is the only medical method that allows full contact between the patient and the doctor.
Operating principle
Palpation works on the tactile sensations provoked by touching, squeezing with the fingers, one or even two palms of the doctor. The specialist works directly with the patient’s body, determining the features and disadvantages of the external integument, figuring out the state of the organs inside. With a high level of specialist palpation ensures accurate determination of:
- location (which is especially true for displacements, congenital deformities);
- dimensions of internal organs, shape;
- mobility.
Palpation is an important method that allows you to establish how painful a particular organ is felt in the human (but not only) body.
Subtypes of technology
Large subtypes are distinguished: deep, superficial.
Superficial palpation is a study of external factors. The specialist pays attention to joints, skin integument, blood vessels. The process involves one or both palms. They are laid on the skin of the diseased part of the body, and the vessels are palpated with the fingertips. The variety is used narrowly enough, as a rule, in consultations.
Deep palpation is a technique necessary for a detailed examination, which allows you to find out how well the internal organs function. It is indispensable when the surface is not able to give results due to the location of the affected area. Since the technique is widespread, several subtypes have been developed:
- Deep immersion. In this case, the doctor during the diagnosis immerses the fingers directly into the affected areas. So you can control how well joints, muscles function, check the condition of bones and adrenal glands.
- Deep sliding. This technique is necessary when studying the abdominal cavity. The doctor receives data on problem areas by examining the abdominal wall, while with his fingertips, he slides right through the cavity. Literally the first seconds allow you to get a response from the body, on the basis of which it is possible to accurately establish the diagnosis and source of the problem.
- Balloting, known as the “push method”. A similar examination-palpation is indispensable for diseases of the liver and tumors of the abdominal cavity. The effectiveness of the method is above all when it comes to ascites. The abdominal wall is pushed with neat movements, so that the organ occupies the correct location. They note the effectiveness of the approach for other diseases.
Features
Percussion, palpation are two widespread methods that make it possible to make an accurate diagnosis. Both technologies have become basic in the development of medicine in the field of physical examination.
Palpation is carried out when the patient is lying or standing. First, a superficial study is carried out, which helps to localize pain during palpation and determine which internal organs this corresponds to. When performing the procedure, they focus on the patient’s breathing.
Methodology
If it is necessary to provide a study of the stomach, the doctor bends a little and folds his fingers together, then carefully on the exhale passes into the abdominal cavity so as to reach the posterior wall. In this case, the stomach is pressed. The organ should slip under the fingers. The information obtained during the study helps to establish how large the organ is and what its shape is. Palpation pain allows you to assess possible damage and establish an accurate diagnosis. Using the method, the presence of tumors is determined or data are obtained that the curvature of the stomach is not normal. However, it must be remembered that if a tumor has arisen in the cardiac part of the organ, it will not be possible to find it by palpation, it is necessary to conduct an x-ray.
Palpation: rare methods
In addition to the two types of studies described above, there are two more options for studying the body. They are less common, however:
- bimanual;
- jerky.
A running ball jerk is carried out with the help of a fist. The doctor conducts jerky movements with a short series of fairly strong strokes. Using this technology, you can understand what is in the abdominal cavity, in the intestine. If the organs are excessively filled with liquid, a splash is heard.
With bimanual palpation is performed with both hands at the same time. This technique provides simultaneous coverage of a large area. You can find out the presence of a tumor, examine the entire abdominal cavity, kidney at the same time.
The method is widely used in veterinary medicine, as it is applicable to small living creatures. One of the options for conducting the study: both hands are placed on the surface of the body and one is pressed on one side, and the other on the opposite.
But in the event that health problems are associated with the rectum or oral cavity, if the pain in the organs accessible rectally is tormented, one has to resort to internal palpation of the patient.