The Rovsing maneuver is a maneuver used in medical semiotics to investigate the presence of abdominal pain

Its positivity indicates acute appendicitis.

The stabbing pain occurs as a result of pressure in the right iliac fossa (right lower quadrant); in the presence of a horseshoe kidney, there is the appearance of paraumbilical pain with distension of the spine.

How to perform the Rovsing maneuver

• the patient is lying down and supine (belly up);
• the doctor, with the fingers and the palm of the hand, exerts pressure on the abdomen at the level of the left iliac fossa;
• the hand is moved progressively upwards (in the direction of the lower right quadrant) to compress the descending colon;
• if the maneuver evokes pain in the right iliac fossa, Rovsing’s sign is said to be positive and is a probable sign of acute appendicitis.

What does positive Rovsing’s sign mean?

As just mentioned, the positive Rovsing sign is an indication of the probable presence of acute appendicitis. In this regard, read also: Acute and chronic appendicitis: causes, symptoms and treatments.

Is Rovsing’s sign enough to make a diagnosis?

No. As often happens in semiotics, the positive Rovsing’s sign represents an indication of diagnosis and is NOT sufficient on its own to make any precise diagnosis: the latter must in fact be investigated by continuing with diagnostic laboratory tests (blood chemistry tests) and diagnostic tests for images (ultrasound, RX…) which can avoid false positives and negatives.

Read Also

Emergency Live Even More…Live: Download The New Free App Of Your Newspaper For IOS And Android

Palpation In The Objective Examination: What Is It And What Is It For?

Acute Abdomen: Causes And Cures

Abdominal Health Emergencies, Warning Signs And Symptoms

Abdominal Ultrasound: How To Prepare For The Exam?

Abdominal Pain Emergencies: How US Rescuers Intervene

Positive Or Negative Psoas Maneuver And Sign: What It Is And What It Indicates

Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck): What It Is And When It Is Performed

Assessment Of Abdominal Trauma: Inspection, Auscultation And Palpation Of The Patient

Acute Abdomen: Meaning, History, Diagnosis And Treatment

Abdominal Trauma: A General Overview Of Management And Trauma Areas

Abdominal Distension (Distended Abdomen): What It Is And What It Is Caused By

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: Symptoms, Evaluation And Treatment

Hypothermia Emergencies: How To Intervene On The Patient

Emergencies, How To Prepare Your First Aid Kit

Seizures In The Neonate: An Emergency That Needs To Be Addressed

Abdominal Pain Emergencies: How US Rescuers Intervene

First Aid, When Is It An Emergency? Some Information For Citizens

Acute Abdomen: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Exploratory Laparotomy, Therapies

Source

Medicina Online