acute abdominal pain Flashcards
what is the definition of acute abdomen ?
it is any situation in which the patient complains of acute abdomen symptoms which suggests a disease which could be life threatening.
what are the usual causes of fatality in acute abdomen ?
sepsis (peritonitis)
acute disturbances of body fluids
what are the causes of sepsis?
rupture of a hollow viscous
external contamination
what are causes of acute disturbances of body fluids ?
haemorrhage
loss of plasma or other fluids
what are the causes of ruptured hollow viscus ?
trauma
localized pathology
post obstruction
what are the causes of haemorrhage ?
trauma
erosion of blood vessels
aneurysm
if you have a syncopal attack in a pregnant woman what would a provisional diagnosis be ?
ectopic haemorrhage until proven otherwise
what are the cause of loss of plasma or other fluids ?
early peritonitis
pancreatitis
intestinal obstructionn
what four main questions need to be addressed when you have a case of acute abdomen ?
- Is there a need for hospitalization
- Is the patient haemodynamically stable
- Onset of symptoms
- Analysis of pain
what is the absolute criteria for admitting a patient to the hospital ?
trauma
shock
disturbance of body fluids
when can we consider a referral to the hospital ?
obstruction
peritonitis
what are the different presentations of pain in acute abdomen patients ?
- intermittent periodic, gripping poorly localized
- continuous pain, worsened by movement
- others (GIT manifestation)
what are the types of continuous pain (peritonitis)?
localized
generalized
what differentiates localized peritonitis from generalized peritonitis ?
localized there are weak but present abdominal sounds
with generalized there are absent sounds
localized peritonitis and no GIT manifestations ?
gynaecological septic conditions ( salpingitis/ systemic inflammatory disease)
