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EM Abdominal Pain

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Question
Answer
Differential Dx can be formed using ___ in presentation of abdominal pain   patient age  
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Pediatrics   Appendicitis,intussusception, gastroenteritis  
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Adults   Biliary tract dz, SBO, PUD, diverticulitis, Pancreatitis, Holiday abdomen  
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Elderly   Bowel obstruction, AAA, Neoplastic Process  
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History of pain   Location, radiation, quality, severity, Palliative or exacerbating, onset/timing  
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RUQ   Biliary colic, Perforated Duodenal Ulcer  
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Pain radiating to the groin   kidney stones  
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Pain radiating to the Back   AAA, Pancreatitis  
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Pain radiating to the Left Arm   Acute coronary syndrome  
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Neck pain   Pain from phrenic irritation  
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Sudden and Sharp pain   Acute vascular lesion, ischemia or infarction, rupture of a hollow viscous  
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Dull or Vague pain   inflammation of viscera  
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Colicky (intermittent) pain   Cholecystitis, Nephrolithiasis, SBO  
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Slow onset pain   think about inflammatory process  
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Causes of Vomiting   Severe irritation of peritoneal or mesenteric nerves, obstruction of an involuntary muscular tube (biliary duct, ureter, intestine, appendix)  
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Specific Diseases to gather hx about with abdominal pain   PUD, IBS, diverticular Dz, Hx of AA or repair of AAA, GB dz, Renal Dz, CAD  
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PE   Irregular heart beat: Afib, emobolus to mesenteric vasculature. Decreased breath sounds: lower lobe pneumonia mimicking abdominal pain. Legs flexed, staying still: peritonitis  
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Involuntary contractions of abdominal muscles indicates that it is   time for a surgery consult  
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High Hct/Hgb may indicate   dehydration, COPD  
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Low Hct/Hgb may indicate   bleeding, anemia  
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Elevated amylase   in pancreatitis, small bowel obstruction, salivary gland infection  
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Elevated LFTs   ALT/AST elevated in hepatitis, biliary/Alk Phos- common bile duct  
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Urinalysis   renal stones, hematuria. No blood does not r/o stones.  
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Imaging of Abdomen   Plain films (CXR, KUB), US, CT, Angiography, Barium Swallows, MR  
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CXR shows   Pneumonia and free air, kidney stones, GB stones (if radiopaque)  
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US is useful in   gallbladder and ovarian dz, hydronephrosis on kidney, pancreas may show dilated duct  
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___is very sensitive to free air, and may be used for therapeutic procedures (drainage of abscess)   CT  
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Evaluation of Mesenteric Ischemia   Angiography  
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____ is a dangerous study in perforation   Barium Studies, never place barium above obstruction.  
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Indication for Barium Studies   Volvulus, Colon Cancer, Mucosal detail  
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Common Five F's   Female, Fertile, Forty, Fat, Flatulent  
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Acute Cholecystitis   RUQ pain, hx of biliary colic, N/V, Febrile, Murphy's sign  
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Acute Appendicitis   Hx: Periumbilical pain that migrates to RLQ, Anorexia. PE: Low grade fever, RLQ (McBurney's pt), Obturator sign/psoas sign. Lab: Usually mild leukocytosis, Morbidity related to perforation with >95% perf. rate after 48 hours of sx  
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Mecke's Diverticulitis   Rules of 2: 2% of pop, 2 ft proximal to ileocecal valve, 2 types of mucosa, 2 years of age (50% cases>age 2), 2:1 M:F ratio. Tx is resection  
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Severe egigastric pain radiating to the back, often associated with ETOH, usually elevated amylase, tx is medical   Acute pancreatitis.  
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Ulcer Dz   Gastric or duodenal ulcer, epigastric pain, may present w/ bleeding obstruction or perforation, Free air on CXR, bleeding or ulcer present during endoscopy  
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Small bowel obstruction   Physiology: food or fb stuck in bowel lumen, Peristalsis causes contractions against obstruction, N/V, bilious vomiting, constipation, severely dehydrated,electrolyte abnormalities  
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PE of small bowel obstruction   distended abdomen, surgical scars (previous surgeries), high pitched bowel sounds, tympanic to percussion  
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TX of SBO   Non-operative: NPO, NGT - decompression, IV fluids  
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Large Bowel Obstruction   same physiology as SBO, presents with diffuse pain, constipation, abdomen markedly distendd, most common causes: diverticulitis, cancer, volvulus  
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Diverticulitis commonly seen where?   LLQ. Left colon. Fever. Diagnosis confirmed with CT. Tx: IVF, ABX  
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Mesenteric Ischemia   Sudden onset of abd. pain, N/V, diarrhea, GI bleeding, may have hx of postprandial angina, atherosclerosis, smoking. Pain out of proportion. Dx confirmed by angiograpy  
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Ruptured AAA   tearing sensation to back. Often present in schock. Exam reveals pulsatile abdominal mass, Rapid diagnosis with US. Surgical Emergency. >5cm - high risk. Higher assciation with COPD, diastolic hypertension  
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The most life-threatening gynecologic cause of acute abdomen   ectopic pregnancy. Get a pregnancy test: serum B-HCG  
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PID   ages 15-35, sexually active, prior hx of PID or STD, during or before menstruation, lower diffuse abdominal pain, vaginal discharge  
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PID PE   Fever, Diffuse lower abdominal pain, hyperemic cervix, "Chandelier Sign". Labs: leukocytosis, abnormal wet prep  
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