Pregnant Abdomen Examination (a.k.a. Obstetric Abdominal Examination) - OSCE Guide

TL;DR

A medical student performs a routine examination of a pregnant woman's abdomen, checking the baby's position and taking measurements.

Transcript

hello my name is Polly I'm one of the medical students can I confirm your name and date of birth yes it's Kitty Simpson 29th of March 1985 nice to meet you kitty today I've been asked to perform an examination of your pregnant abdomen this will involve me having a look at your tummy feeling your tummy and baby's position also taking some measuremen... Read More

Key Insights

• 👋: Introduction and confirmation of patient's details and purpose of examination.
• 😷: Explanation of the examination process and potential discomfort.
• 👉: Checking if the patient has any pain or discomfort prior to starting the examination.
• 🚽: Offering the patient the opportunity to empty their bladder before beginning the examination.
• 🤔: Asking the patient if they have any questions, ensuring clear communication and understanding.
• 💺: Ensuring patient's comfort before starting the examination.
• 💓: Examining the patient's hands and feeling their pulse as a part of the examination.
• 👀: Inspecting the patient's abdomen and noticing appropriate characteristics for pregnancy such as Linea [___] visibility.
• 🖐️: Palpating the patient's abdomen and establishing the position of the fetus as longitudinal lie and catholic' presentation. Head engagement was also confirmed.
• 🩺: Suggesting additional examinations such as blood pressure measurement and urinalysis to complete the examination process.

Questions & Answers

Q: What are some of the things the medical student checks during the examination?

During the examination, the medical student checks the appearance and feel of the patient's abdomen, the baby's position, and listens to the baby's heartbeat.

Q: Why is it important for the patient to empty her bladder before the examination?

Emptying the bladder before the examination allows for a clearer view and feel of the abdomen, making the examination more accurate.

Q: What is the significance of the Linea visible on palpation?

The Linea is a dark line that can appear on a pregnant woman's abdomen. Its visibility indicates normal changes in the skin during pregnancy.

Q: What additional tests does the medical student suggest to complete the examination?

The medical student suggests performing a blood pressure measurement and urinalysis to gather more information about the patient's overall health during pregnancy.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The medical student introduces themselves and gets the necessary information from the patient.

• They explain the process of the examination, reassuring the patient that it should not be painful.

• The student completes the examination, noting the condition of the patient's abdomen and the position of the baby.