Abdominal Physical Signs and Medical Eponyms: Part II. Percussion and Auscultation, 1924-1980.

Abstract

Percussion and auscultation are derived from the Latin words to touch and hear, respectively. Covered are abdominal percussion signs and ausculatory signs discovered from 1924 to 1980. Signs ascribed as medical eponyms pay homage to these physicians who provided new and unique insights into disease. PubMed, Medline, online Internet word searches, textbooks, and references from other source text. PubMed was searched using the Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) of the name of the eponyms and text words associated with the sign. Many of these signs have been discarded because of modern imaging and diagnostic techniques. When combined with a high clinical suspicion, positive results using percussion combined with palpation is a useful bedside technique in detecting splenic enlargement. Thus, some of these maneuvers remain important bedside techniques that skilled practitioners should master, and along with a meaningful history, provide relevant information to diagnosis. It is through learning about these signs that we gain a sense of humility on the difficulty physicians faced prior to the advent of techniques that now allow us an easier way to visualize and diagnose the underlying disease processes.