Acute Abdomen Flashcards
(227 cards)
9 life threatening abdominal pain
AAA
Abdominal aortic dissection
GI perf
Incarcerated hernia
Acute bowel obstruction
Mesenteric ischemia
Ectopic preg
Placental abruption
Splenic rupture
top 10 dx in pts with abdomen pain in ER
appendicitis
biliary tract disease
SBO
gyn disease
pancreatitis
renal colic
perforated ulcer
cancer
diverticular disease
non-spec abd pain
red flags in hx of acute abdominal pain
age over 65
alcoholism
immunocompromised
CVD
prior surgery
comorbidities
recent GI instrumentation
early preg
pain characteristics of acute abdominal pain
acute onset
sig pain at onset
pain followed by emesis
constant pain less than 2 days
physical exam of acute abdominal pain
rigid abdomen
signs of shock
involuntary guarding
referred pain:
gall bladder to ____
right subscapular area
referred pain
perforated duodenal ulcer to
shoulders
referred pain
ureteral obstruction to
testicles
referred pain
MI to where
epigastric area, jaw, neck, upper extremity
referred pain
GYN to where
lower back
def acute
less than 72 hours
progressive worsening
chronic def
unchanged for months - years
visceral or parietal pain
dull, achy, colicky
poorly localized
distention, ischemia
, inflammation or spasm of a hollow organ
visceral
visceral or parietal pain
sharp
well localized
peritoneal irritation, ischemia, infalmmation/stretching of parietal peritoneum
parietal
5 things that cause abrupt excrutiating pain
biliary colic
ureteral colic
myocardial infarction
perforated ulcer
ruptured aneurysm
6 things that cause gradual, steady pain
acute cholecystitis
acute cholangitis
acute hepatitis
appendicitis
acute salpingitis
diverticulitis
3 things that cause rapid onset of severe, constant pain
acute pancreatitis
mesenteric thrombosis, strangulated bowel
ectopic preg
3 things that cause intermittent, colicky pain, crescendo with free intervals
early pancreatitis (rare)
small bowel obstruction
inflammatory bowel disease
acute abdominal pain pertinent history (think OLDCAARTS)
sudden or gradual?
aggravating and alleviating factors?
quality - colicky, waxing/waning, dull/sharp
site - diffuse or particular quadrant
timing - hours or weeks
radiation - shoulder, flank, chest, perineum
assoc symptoms: fever, nausea vomiting diarrhea or constipation, dysuria, bloody stool, vaginal discharge, SOB
PMH: any cardiac risk factors
surgical hx: prior abdominal surgery ***
med hx: bleeding risk, pain meds, pepto?
social hx: menstrual, contraceptives, STI risk, alcohol use
physical exam with acute abdomen pain
appearance and level of comfort
movement or lack of movement in pt
skin color
vital signs
temp: fever or hypothermia?
resp rate - may be increased due to pain or compensatory due to metabolic acidosis
BP - hypotension due to sepsis, GI bleed
auscultation of heart/lungs: afib, pnuemonia
auscultation of bowel sounds: hypoactive or hyperactive
bruits: AAA
palpation!!!
restless pt who cannot sit still - whatcha thinking?
renal colic
lying perfectly still or supine - whatcha thinking?
peritonitis
if hypoactive or absent bowel sounds whatcha thinking
peritonitis, SBO
if hyperactive bowel sounds, whatcha thinking?
blood/inflammation of GI tract