[Endorectal "Shchetkin symptom" in acute surgical diseases and injuries of the abdominal organs].

The results of the digital rectal examination of 218 patients with "acute abdomen" syndrome are generalized here. 145 patients (66.5%) showed a greater pain-fullness at the detachment of the finger from the anterior wall of the rectum than at the pressing on the latter. 183 patients were operated upon; in 126 of them free liquid was found in the abdominal cavity. The endorectal "Shchetkin symptom" was positive in 79% of operated patients (in 93.7% of patients with abdominal free liquid found at the operation).