A succussion splash, also known as a gastric splash, is a
sloshing
In fluid dynamics, slosh refers to the movement of liquid inside another object (which is, typically, also undergoing motion).
Strictly speaking, the liquid must have a free surface to constitute a slosh dynamics problem, where the dynamics of t ...
sound heard through a
stethoscope
The stethoscope is a medical device for auscultation, or listening to internal sounds of an animal or human body. It typically has a small disc-shaped resonator that is placed against the skin, and one or two tubes connected to two earpieces. ...
during sudden movement of the patient on abdominal
auscultation. It reflects the presence of gas and fluid in an obstructed organ, as in
gastric outlet obstruction
Gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) is a medical condition where there is an obstruction at the level of the pylorus, which is the outlet of the stomach. Individuals with gastric outlet obstruction will often have recurrent vomiting of food that has ...
.
A physical examination can show an abdominal succussion splash, which is elicited by placing the stethoscope over the upper abdomen and rocking the patient back and forth at the hips. Retained gastric material greater than three hours after a meal will generate a splash sound and indicate the presence of a hollow viscus filled with both fluid and gas.
An example would be a gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) due to pyloric stenosis, with abdominal succussion splash.
[Valle JD. Chapter 293. Peptic Ulcer Disease and Related Disorders. In: Longo DL, Fauci AS, Kasper DL, Hauser SL, Jameson JL, Loscalzo J, eds. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 18th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2012.]
References
Succussion splash General Practice Notebook, retrieved 8 March 2010
Clinical Manifestations retrieved 26 September 2017
Audible medical signs
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