The Acute Abdomen Flashcards

1
Q
Match the sign to the diagnosis: 
Cullen's sign
Grey Turner's sign
Murphy's sign
Rosvig's sign
A

Cullen’s sign pancreatitis
Grey Turner’s sign pancreatitis
Murphy’s sign gallbladder
Rosvig’s sign appendicitis

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2
Q

Pain exacerbated by coughing/moving is caused by what type of pain?

A

Parietal pain

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3
Q

Pain where you’re unable to stay still is caused by what type of pain?

A

Visceral pain

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4
Q

What causes tinkling bowel sounds?

A

Complete small bowel obstruction

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5
Q

Is referred pain always ipsilateral?

A

Yes

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6
Q

Does parietal or visceral pain cause guarding rebound tenderness?

A

Parietal pain

visceral non-tender

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7
Q

What is absolute constipation?

A

Not passing wind

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8
Q

What colour is fresh bile?

A

Golden yellow

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9
Q

What drug can be used to reverse warfarin? how long does it take? what can be done if you need it asap?

A

Vitamin K
PO takes few days
IV takes 6hr
ASAP: FFP or factor 7

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10
Q

Name 4 causes of LLQ pain

A
Ruptured ectopic
Ovarian cyst/torsion
Diverticulitis
Renal stone
Crohn's / UC
Strangulated hernia
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11
Q

Name 4 causes of RLQ pain

A
Ruptured ectopic
Ovarian cyst/torsion
Diverticulitis
Appendicitis
Renal stones 
Crohn's 
Strangulated hernia
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12
Q

Name 4 causes of epigastric pain

A
Pancreatitis
MI
PUD
Gastritis / reflux 
AAA
Diaphragmatic hernia
Acute cholecystitis
Cholecystitis
AAA
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13
Q

Name 4 causes of RUQ pain

A
Acute cholecystitis
RLL pneumonia
Duodenal ulcer
Hepatitis
Appendicitis
Renal stone
Pyelonephritis
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14
Q

Name 4 causes of LUQ pain

A
LLL pneumonia
AAA
Pyelonephritis
Pancreatitis
Renal stone
Gastric ulcer
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15
Q

Name 4 causes of central abdominal pain

A
Intestinal obstruction
Pancreatitis
Early appendicitis
AAA
Diverticulitis
Ischemic bowel
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16
Q

What basic investigations should you do for the acute abdomen?

A
Bloods: FBC, CRP, U+E, lactate, amylase, cardiac enzyme, G&S, crossmatch
ECG 
Urinalysis
bHCG 
erect CXR
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17
Q

What type of imaging is 1st line when investigating the acute abdomen?

A

CT
If suspect obstruction: AXR
US useful in RUQ pain / women with pelvic pain / kids

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18
Q

What basic Mx would you give for the acute abdomen whilst awaiting Ix results?

A
IV morphine
IV paracetamol
Antiemetic
Oxygen if low
IV fluid
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19
Q

In the management of the acute abdomen, most patients require resuscitation before surgery, except which?

A

Ischemic gut / faecal peritonitis

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20
Q

What is absolute constipation?

A

Not passed wind

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21
Q

A peritonitic patient is likely to stay still or move about?

A

Stay still

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22
Q

What would be see on urine dipstick in pyelonephritis?

A

Nitrites, protein, leukocytes

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23
Q

What is free air under the diaphragm a sign of?

A

Perforation

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24
Q

Abdominal XR has the radiation equivalent of how many CXR?

A

50

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25
Q

What type of imaging is used for the acute abdomen in pregnant women?

A

MRI

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26
Q

Sudden onset abdo pain + shock = what (until proven otherwise)

A

AAA

or bowel perforation, inferior MI, acute ischemic bowel

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27
Q

Is the normal location of the appendix intraperitoneal or retroperitoneal?

A

Retroperitoneal

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28
Q

Where is the pain located in appendicitis?

A

Perriumbilical central pain that shift to RIF
(periumbilical since pancreas is a midgut organ, shifts as irritates parietal peritoneum)
(ask patient to point to where the pain started and where it is now)

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29
Q

How can you assess for peritonism in appendicitis?

A

Ask kid to jump, ask adult to cough

If kids can jump, probably not appendicitis

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30
Q

What is the relevance of puritanism in appendicitis?

A

If peritonitic - need surgery

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31
Q

What is the name of the scoring system used in paediatrics for appendicitis?

A

ALVARADO

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32
Q

What is Rosvig’s sign?

A

Press LIF, PTx feels more pain in RIF

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33
Q

Where is McBurney’s point and what is its relevance?

A

1/3 distance from umbilicus - ASIS

Where tenderness maximal in appendicitis

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34
Q

Bad breath halitosis in a child with acute abdominal pain is a sign of what?

A

Appendicitis

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35
Q

What age has the highest incidence of appendicitis? When is the second peak?

A

10-20yr

2nd peak in 60s

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36
Q

Appendicitis can occur at any age, true or false

A

True

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37
Q

What effect does appendicitis have on:

  • Temperature
  • HR
  • WCC
  • CRP
  • LFTs
  • U+Es
  • bHCG
A
  • Low grade fever
  • Mild >HR
  • Mild >WCC
  • > CRP
  • Normal LFTs
  • Normal U+Es
  • Normal bHCG
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38
Q

What imaging is first line for suspected appendicitis in men, fertile women, pregnant women and non-fertile women and children?

A
Men - CT
Pregnant women - MRI
Fertile women - US then CT
Children - US
Non-fertile women - CT
(US fertile women is to exclude ovarian causes, not to see appendicitis)
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39
Q

In males under 40yr, if appendicitis is very strongly suspected is CT still required before LAP?

A

Yes - NICE says CT before LAP

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40
Q

In males over 40yr, what is in the differential for appendicitis?

A

Perforated caecal tumour
Atypical diverticulitis
Ischemic bowel

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41
Q

What is a faecolith?

A

Stone of hard poo

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42
Q

Are antibiotics given for appendicitis?

A

Yes

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43
Q

What are the 5 Ps for causes of ileus?

A
Post intra-abdo surgery
Low potassium
Peritonitis
Pelvic/spinal fracture
Parturition childbirth
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44
Q

How is bowel obstruction classified?

A

Structural mechanical v paralytic ileus

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45
Q

What are the 3 types of mechanical AKA structural bowel obstruction?

A

External compression
Wall compression
Something in lumen

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46
Q

What is the commonest and 2nd commonest cause of small bowel obstruction?

A

1st adhesion

2nd hernia

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47
Q

What cause of bowel obstruction can’t be diagnosed in a virgin abdomen?

A

Adhesion

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48
Q

What is the commonest and 2nd commonest cause of large bowel obstruction?

A

1st malignancy

2nd volvulus

49
Q

What is a stricture? Name 2 causes

A

Narrowing of the lumen
Due to inflammation
Crohn’s / diverticular

50
Q

In bowel obstruction, why is the there abdominal distension? Why is there colicky pain? Why is there nausea?

A

Distension - proximal bowel dilates + swells full of fluid/gas
Colicky pain - increased motility / peristalsis
Nausea - electrolyte imbalance + dehydration

51
Q

What does bowel distal to the obstruction do?

A

Carries on as normal until empty - then contracts and becomes immobile

52
Q

Where are the 2 types of volvulus?

A

Caecal / sigmoid

Both small bowel obstruction

53
Q

What is the management of sigmoid volvulus?

A

Decompress during rigid sigmoidoscope

54
Q

What is the AXR appearance of volvulus?

A

Coffee bean

55
Q

“Strands pulling parts of bowel together” is the description of what?

A

Adhesion

56
Q

What is gallstone ileus?

A

Causes mechanical small bowel obstruction
Complication of cholecystiis
Not a true ileus
Gallstone stuck at ileocaecal valve

57
Q

Early distension / constipation is a sign pf small or large bowel obstruction?

A

SBO late distension, late constipation

LBO early significant distension, early constipation

58
Q

In small or large bowel obstruction is there early or large bilious vomiting?

A

Small bowel early bilious vomit

Large bowel late bilious then faeculent vomit

59
Q

What cause of acute abdomen causes tympanic percussion?

A

Bowel obstruction

60
Q

In a patient with acute bowel obstruction, change in the character/severity of pain (colicky > constant) suggests what?

A

Complication: ischemic, perforation, sepsis

61
Q

What is the normal size of bowel on AXR?

A

Small bowel 3cm
Large bowel 6cm
Caecum 9cm

62
Q

What is seen on ABG in bowel obstruction?

A

Late metabolic acidosis

63
Q

What imaging is done for bowel obstruction?

A

AXR + contrast CT

64
Q

What is the conservative Mx of bowel obstruction?

A
Analgesia
IV fluids with potassium
NG tube (suck intestinal decompression)
Catheter
NBM 
('Drip and suck')
65
Q

What are the indications for surgery in bowel obstruction?

A
Strangulation
Closed loops
Haemodynamically unstable
Perforation 
Ischaemia
No improvement after 72hr conservative Mx
66
Q

What drug is contraindicated in bowel obstruction?

A

Metoclopramide pro-kinetic perforation risk

67
Q

Gas is produced by _____ metabolism of gut organism

A

Anaerobic

68
Q

What are signs of dehydration that can be seen on bloods?

A

High haematocrit
High lactate
High urea/creatinine

69
Q

How does the clinical presentation of ileus differ from mechanical bowel obstruction?

A

Continuous non-colicky abdo pain

70
Q

What is the management of ileus?

A

Conservative NG tube

71
Q

What is the relevance of an incompetent ileocecal valve in bowel obstruction?

A

Incompetent valve good since it spreads the pressure

72
Q

Which type of IBD is more associated with strictures and why?

A

Crohn’s since transmural inflammation

73
Q

Where in the GIT are diverticulum most common?

A

Sigmoid

74
Q

What is a diverticula? What is the aetiology?

A

Outpouching of got wall

Due to lack of dietary fibre; high intraluminal pressure; mucosae herniate through muscle layers of gut at weak points

75
Q

What is diverticulosis, diverticular disease and diverticulitis?

A

Diverticulosis = diverticula present (most asymptomatic incidental finding)
Diverticular disease = symptomatic
Diverticulitis = inflamed diverticula

76
Q

What is the presentation of diverticular disease?

A

Altered bowel habit +- left sided pain

77
Q

What classification system is used in diverticulitis?

A

Hinchey

grades 1-4

78
Q

What is the presentation of diverticulitis?

A

Fever
Altered bowel habit
LHS pain/tender
>HR

79
Q

How is diverticulitis diagnosed?

A

CT
(Avoid colonoscopy in the acute setting due to perforation risk)
(If first presentation arrange outpatient colonoscopy)

80
Q

What is the management of diverticlar disease?

A

High fibre diet +- antispasmodic PO mebeverine

81
Q

What is the management of diverticulitis?

A

Empirical IV ABx

82
Q

A complication of diverticulitis is an abscess, how is this diagnosed? Who drains it?

A

CT

Interventional radiologists

83
Q

What is a Hartmann’s procedure?

A

Remove sigmoid
Bring out colostomy
Reverse in younger PTx

84
Q

What surgical procedure is done for perforation in diverticulitis?

A

Hartmann’s procedure

85
Q

Define a fistula

A

Abnormal connection between 2 epithelialized surfaces

86
Q

What type of fistula can cause bubbles in urine, brown urine and frequent UTIs?

A

Colovesical
(Surgical mx)
(Comp of diverticulitis)

87
Q
Aetiology of pancreatitis
50% -
25% -
15% -
10% -
A

50% gallstone
25% alcohol
15% other
10% idiopathic

88
Q

What is the aetiology of pancreatitis using the pneumonic?

A
I idiopathic
G gallstone
E ethanol 
T trauma
S steroids
M mumps / malignancy
A autoimmune
S scorpion
H hypertriglycerideaemia / hypercalcemia
E ERCP
D drugs: diuretics, azathioprine
89
Q

Pain in pancreatitis

  • Severe or mild
  • Constant or colicky
  • Radiates where?
  • Worse in what position?
  • Better in what position?
  • Tender or non-tender?
A
Severe constant
Radiates to back (since retroperitoneal)
Worse in supine position lying down
Relief sitting upright / leaning forward
Tender
90
Q

What signs on the abdomen can be seen in severe pancreatitis?

A

Cullen’s + Grey Turner’s

91
Q

What is the diagnosis criteria for acute pancreatitis?

A

2/3 of: amylase >300 + abdo pain typical of apppendicitis + CT findings

92
Q

When do you CT scan acute appendicitis?

A

If unclear Dx OR if no improvement at 48hr (to look for comp/necrosis) OR if suspect necrotizing (severe)

(if amylase >3X upper limit normal don’t need CT scan - can diagnose)

93
Q

What is the role of US in appendicitis?

A

US everyone

look for comp / causes

94
Q

In pancreatitis, if US finds gallstones, what scan is done next?

A

MRCP

Then ERCP or cholecystectomy with bile duct exploration

95
Q

What is an index cholecystectomy?

A

Means within 1wk of admission - in the same admission

96
Q

What is the Mx of mild pancreatitis?

A

Analgesia
Antiemetic
Fluid resuscitation - lots 4-6L in 24hr to maintain fluid volume
(Mild pancreatitis usually responds by 48hr)

97
Q

What is the Mx of severe pancreatitis?

A
Analgesia
Fluid resuscitation
HDU/ICU for pulmonary/renal monitoring
Correct electrolyte derangement
CT to rule out necrosis
Prophylactic ABx if necrosis
Surgical drainage if infected
TPN / enteric nutrition
98
Q

A complication of pancreatitis ‘capsulated fluid collection around a non-necrotic pancreas that lasts more than 4 weeks’ describes what?

A

Pancreatic pseudocyst

99
Q

Is amylase specific to pancreatitis?

A

No

100
Q

Is amylase a severity / prognostic indicator in pancreatitis?

A

No

101
Q

‘Interstitial edematous’ and ‘acute necrotizing’ are both types of pancreatitis - which is the commonest type of pancreatitis? How can you differentiate them?

A

Interstitial edematous commonest type

Differentiate by CT

102
Q

Are antibiotics given to all patients with pancreatitis?

A

No only if necrotising

If necrotic IV amox + metron + gent

103
Q

Gallstone pancreatitis typically has a raised ALP + Bn, true or false

A

True

Alcoholic pancreatitis typically has low MCV

104
Q

Who is more at risk for chronic pancreatitis - alcoholic acute pancreatitis or gallstone pancreatitis?

A

Alcoholic - longstanding pancreatic insult

105
Q

In chronic pancreatitis there is exocrine pancreas insufficiency - what is the management of this?

A

Creon enzyme replacement

106
Q

Chronic bowel ischemia ‘angina of the gut’ is caused by what disease process? Is causes pain triggered by what?

A

Atherosclerosis

Triggered by eating

107
Q

In acute ischemic bowel, SB usually dies and LB usually lives - why is this?

A

LB supplied by marginal A collaterals can maintain perfusion

108
Q

In ischemic bowel, pain is said to be ________

A

Pain out of proportion of clinical findings

109
Q

What is the management of ischemic bowel?

A
Theatre ASAP
(Remove dead gut, resect nonviable intestines)
110
Q

What blood test in the acute abdomen should alert suspicion of ischaemic bowel?

A

High lactate

111
Q

What investigation is done for diagnosis in ischaemic bowel?

A

CT angiogram

112
Q

The caecal squelch sign is assoicated with what cause of the acute abdomen

A

Mesenteric adenitis

- but googled it and can’t find this on the internet ???

113
Q

What antibiotics are given for intra-abdominal sepsis, and what bugs are they against?

A

Amoxicillin (strep, enterococcus)
Gentamicin (coliforms)
Metronidazole (anaerobes)

114
Q

What is Mittelschmerz?

A

Pain associated with ovulation

115
Q

Mesenteric adenitis

  • what age range
  • viral or bacterial
  • pyrexic or apyrexic
A

Kids
Viral (often history of recent viral illness)
High fever

116
Q

Name 2 causes of toxic megacolon

A

C diff

UC

117
Q

Hirschsprung’s disease

  • Diarrhea or constipation
  • What colour vomit
  • Missing what
A

Constipation
Green bile vomit
Missing parasympathetic plexus

118
Q

Can renal or gallstones be seen on AXR?

A

Renal

not gallstones

119
Q

What questions should you ask in a history for PR bleeding?

A
Every stool or once
How much blood
Colour of blood
Mixed with stool
Pain with defecation
On blood thinners
Loose or hard stool
How often pass stool 
Weight loss