//fpnotebook.com/
Murphy Sign
Aka: Murphy Sign
- Indications
- Acute Cholecystitis
- Technique
- Examiner palpates the abdominal RUQ (deep subcostal palpation)
- Patient takes a deep breath
- Interpretation
- Positive test if the patient has increased pain or suddenly halts their inspiration due to pain (inspiratory arrest)
- Suggests Acute Cholecystitis when present
- Efficacy
- General patients
- Positive Likelihood Ratio: 5.0
- Negative Likelihood Ratio: 0.4
- Test Sensitivity: 65%
- Test Specificity: 87%
- Older patients
- Positive Likelihood Ratio: 2.3
- Negative Likelihood Ratio: 0.66
- Test Sensitivity: 48%
- Test Specificity: 79%
- References
- Trowbridge (2003) JAMA 289(1): 80-6 [PubMed]