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Acute Abdomen

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What is an acute abdomen?   acute abdomen refers to a sudden, severe abdominal pain that is less than 24 hours in duration in previously well pts  
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Most common causes of acute abdomen (13)   AABCDE, GIM NPPP: Abscess (tubo-ovarian), Append, Bowel Obst, Bil colic, Cholecys, Divert (inc Meckel's), Ectopic preg, Gastroent, IBD, Mes ischemia, Nephrolith/Uterolith, Ov torsion, rupture/cyst, Pancr, Peritonitis, Perf (gastr/duod ulcer), Salpingitis  
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DDx for RUQ pain (17)   Abscess (subphrenic/perinephric most common), Cholangitis, Cholecystitis, Choledocholithiasis, Congestive Hepatopathy, Diverticulitis, Hepatitis, Herpes Zoster, IBD, Muscular strain, Neoplasm, Nephrolithiasis, PUD, PNA, Pneumothorax, PE, Pyelonephritis  
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DDx for RLQ pain (12)   Abscess (subphrenic/perinephric most common), Cholangitis, Cholecystitis, Choledocholithiasis, Congestive Hepatopathy, Diverticulitis, Hepatitis, Herpes Zoster, IBD, Muscular strain, Neoplasm, Nephrolithiasis, PUD, PNA, Pneumothorax, PE, Pyelonephritis  
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DDx for LLQ pain (10)   Abscess, Diverticulitis, Ectopic pregnancy, Gastroenteritis, Hernia, IBD, Neoplasm, Ovarian torsion/cyst, PID, Pyelonephritis  
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DDx for LUQ pain (10)   Abscess (subphrenic/perinephric most common), Neoplasm (pancreatic, splenic, renal), Nephrolithiasis, Pancreatitis, PUD, PNA, Pneumothorax, PE, Pyelonephritis, Splenic infarct/rupture  
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What should you expect on physical exam of pt with acute abdomen?   1. peritoneal signs (irritation/pain with even slight jarring), 2. lie very still (to keep from irritation peritoneum), 3. Ask them to point to pain with one finger (helps in ddx)  
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Pain from stomach refers to where?   epigastric region/substernal  
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Pain from pancreas refers to where?   epigastric region  
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Pain from small intestine refers to where?   periumbilical  
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Pain from colon refers to where?   lower abdomen/suprapubic  
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Pain from gallbladder felt where?   RUQ  
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Characterization of pain - things you want to ask about when investigating acute abdomen   CLaSP: character, location, severity, pattern  
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Temporal sequence of pain - things you want to ask about when investigating acute abdomen   onset, frequency, progression, duration (ProDuFreOn)  
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alleviating/exacerbating factors - things you want to ask about when investigating acute abdomen   position, food, activity, medications  
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associated signs/symptoms - things you want to ask about when investigating acute abdomen   nausea vomiting, fever, chills, anorexia, wt. loss, cough, dysphagia, dysuria/frequency altered bowel function (diarrhea, constipation, obstipation, hematochezia, melena  
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PMH   prior surgery or illness, associated conditions (pregnancy, menstrual cycle, diabetes, atrial fibrillation or cardiovascular disease, immunosuppression)  
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Meds   anticoagulation, steroids  
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Visceral Pain: characterize, location, types of nerve fibers, nerve system, describe pt   diffuse, ill-defined, usually colicky; typically midline, frequently referred; carried on visceral efferent fibers; may cause para/sympathetic response, typically colicky or ischemic pain; pt writhing in pain  
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Parietal Pain: etiology, types of nerve fibers, Characterize, describe pts   secondary to peritoneal irritation, typically from inflammatory causes; carried on segmental somatic fibers; usually dull, steady ache though better localized; pts do not move or want to be moved  
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Peritoneal signs   1. extreme tenderness, 2. Rebound tenderness 3. Motion pain 4. Voluntary guarding 5. Involuntary guarding & rigidity  
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Places Where Fluid, Blood, or Pus can Collect   1. Pelvis 2. Paracolic gutters 3. Morrison’s pouch (subhepatic) 4. Interloop (between loops of bowel) 5. Subphrenic  
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Signs of Appendicitis   1. iliopsoas, 2. Rovsing’s, 3. Obturator, 4. McBurney's  
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Iliopsoas Sign   pain on passive extension of hip (retrocecal appendix)  
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Rovsing’s Sign   pain in RLQ when press on LLQ  
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Obturator Sign   pain on flexion & internal rotation of hip  
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McBurney’s Sign   pain at McBurney’s Point  
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Murphy’s Sign   inspiratory arrest when palpating under R costal margin (acute cholecystitis)  
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Boas’s Sign   referred R subscapular pain of biliary colic (cholelithiasis)  
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Signs of peritoneal irritation   a. Cough Tenderness b. Heel Tap: pain transmitted up muscles beneath peritoneal cavity  
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Cervical Motion Tenderness   classic sign of PID  
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Signs of Hemorrhagic Pancreatitis   a. Cullen’s Sign: bluish discoloration of periumbilical area b. Fox’s Sign: ecchymosis of inguinal ligament c. Grey Turner’s Sign: flank ecchymosis  
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Cullen’s Sign   bluish discoloration of periumbilical area, Sign of Hemorrhagic Pancreatitis  
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Fox’s Sign   ecchymosis of inguinal ligament, Sign of Hemorrhagic Pancreatitis  
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Grey Turner’s Sign   flank ecchymosis, Sign of Hemorrhagic Pancreatitis  
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Charcot’s Triad   fever, jaundice, RUQ pain (cholangitis)  
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Raynaud's pentad   fever, jaundice, RUQ pain + AMS and hypotension/sepsis/shock; harbinger of worsening, ascending cholangitis  
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Signs of Splenic Injury & Rupture   a. Kehr’s Sign: pain referred to tip of L shoulder b. Ballance’s Sign: dullness to percussion over the flanks (coag blood on L, fluid blood on R)  
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Kehr’s Sign   pain referred to tip of L shoulder  
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Ballance’s Sign   dullness to percussion in the left flank LUQ and shifting dullness to percussion in the right flank seen with splenic rupture/hematoma. The dullness in the left flank is due to coagulated blood, the shifting dullness on the right due to fluid blood.  
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Pt who is slightly febrile, with anorexia, N/V (pain before vomiting), pain is periumbilical then RLQ. What is the diagnosis? What do you diagnose with? What is the initial tx?   Acute Appendicitis, diagnose w CT, IVF rehydration, pre-op Abx (cefoxitin)  
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Pt with post-prandial biliary colic; N/V, fever, Murphy’s Sign; pain in RUQ, with referred pain to R subscapular area. What is the diagnosis? What do you diagnose with? What is the initial tx?   Gallbladder dz; diagnose w U/S; IVF, cholecystectomy. Abx, ERCP to decompress  
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Pt w N/V, absent bowel sounds, +/-fever, dehydration, shock; pain is epigastric/LUQ, radiates to back. What is the diagnosis? What do you diagnose with? What is the initial tx?   Pancreatitis; ddx w Amylase & lipase levels; AXR (sentinel loops), CT (fat stranding); NPO, NGT, IVF, TPN, H2 blocker, analgesia  
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what is the purpose of Ranson's criteria   11 prognostic Sx to identify high risk in pts w. pancreatitis  
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Ranson's criteria on admission   GA LAW: Glucose > 200 mg/dL, Age>55yr, LDH > 350 IU/dL, AST > 250 IU/dL, WBC > 16,000 cell/mm3  
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Ranson's criteria after 48h   C HOBBS: Ca++ < 8 mg/dL, Hematocrit decrease > 10%, arterial pO2 < 60 mmHg, BUN increase > 5 mg/dL, Base deficit > 4 mEq/L, fluid Sequestration > 6 L  
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Ranson's criteria mortality   1. If<3 signs, 1%; 2. 3-4 signs, 15%; 3. 5-6 signs, 50%; 4. 7+ signs, approximately 100%  
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Pt w Epigastric tenderness radiating to back, diffuse abd pain, N/V, dec bowel sounds, shock/dehydration, +/-fever   pancreatitis  
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Causes of pancreatitis   I GET SMASHED: Idiopathic, Gallstone, EtOH, Trauma, Steroids, Mumps and other viruses (EBV/CMV), Autoimmune (SLE, PAN), scorpion/snake, Hyper -ca -lipid Hypo-thermia, ERCP, Duod ulcer & Drugs (SAND - steroids/sulfonamides, azathioprine, NSAIDs, diuretics)  
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Pt w N/V, anorexia, blood in stool; Epigastric, radiates to back; What is the diagnosis? What do you diagnose with? What is the initial tx?   PUD; Guaiac+, EGD, UGI series; Abx vs. H. pylori, H2 blocker, antacids, sucralfate, omeprazole  
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Pt w dec Bowel sounds, tympany over liver; pain epigastric, radiates to back. What is the diagnosis? What do you diagnose with? What is the initial tx?   Perforated Ulcer; dx with CXR (free air); NGT, IVF, Foley, Abx, surgery  
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Pt w Heartburn, resp Sx from aspiration, regurgitation; epigastric pain. What is the diagnosis? What do you diagnose with? What is the initial tx?   GERD; dx with EGD, UGI contrast study, pH probe, manometry; H2 blockers, omeprazole, cisapride, elevate while sleeping  
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Pt with NGT blood; painless, or with epigastric pain. What is the diagnosis? What do you diagnose with? What is the initial tx?   Gastritis/Duodenitis, dx with EGD, initial tx with H2 blockers, antacids, sucralfate  
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pt with Fever, diarrhea, anorexia, mass, N/V, dysuria, LLQ or RLQ pain. What is the diagnosis? What do you diagnose with? What is the initial tx?   Diverticulitis; ddx with Abd CT, colonoscopy; tx w IVF, NPO, Abx, NG suction  
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Pt with Bloody Diarrhea, fever, weight loss; pain in hypogastric area. What is the diagnosis? What do you diagnose with? What is the initial tx?   Ulcerative colitis; Colonoscopy w. biopsy, barium enema, UGI, stool cultures; Sulfasalazine, steroids, metronidazole  
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Pt with Diarrhea, fever, weight loss; pain in hypogastric area; has anal disease. What is the diagnosis? What do you diagnose with? What is the initial tx?   Crohn's; Colonoscopy w. biopsy, barium enema, UGI, stool cultures; Sulfasalazine, steroids, metronidazole  
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N/V/D; pain after vomiting; diffuse abd pain. What is the diagnosis? What do you diagnose with? What is the initial tx?   Enterocolitis, Use hx to diagnose, abx and ivf to tx  
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Frequent vomiting, abd distention, high-pitched bowel sounds; pain is Hypogastric, Periumbilical. What is the diagnosis? What do you diagnose with? What is the initial tx?   SBO; AXR (air-fluid levels), CT; NGT, IVF, Foley  
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Abd distention, anorexia, obstipation, N/V, hypogastric pain. What is the diagnosis? What do you diagnose with? What is the initial tx?   Colon Obstruction; AXR, sigmoidoscopy, gastrografin enema; Colonoscopic reduction, enema, colonic tube  
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Hemoperitoneum, LUQ mass, pain in LUQ, referred to tip of L shoulder. What is the diagnosis? What do you diagnose with? What is the initial tx?   Splenic disease; Abd CT, DPL; Ex lap  
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Diffuse abd pain out of proportion to exam; N/V, hyperdefecation +/-heme stools, h/o AFib or heart dz. What is the diagnosis? What do you diagnose with? What is the initial tx?   Mesenteric Ischemia; Mesenteric A- gram, plain film shows “thumb- printing” ; Embolectomy, papaverine vasodilator; resect necrotic tissue  
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Hypotension w. pulsatile abd mass, diffuse epigastric pain. What is the diagnosis? What do you diagnose with? What is the initial tx?   Ruptured AAA; If not ruptured, U/S & CT; OR immediately  
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pain from any quadrant radiates from flank to testicles; What is the diagnosis? What do you diagnose with?   Nephrolithiasis; KUB, U/A, U/S.  
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What could thrombocytopenia indicate?   Sepsis  
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ABG showing metabolic acidosis   ischemia - possible bowel ischemia  
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Sentinel loop on KUB. What is it and what does it indicate?   pancreatitis; dilation of a segment of large or small intestine, indicative of localized ileus from nearby inflammation.  
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What study do you do for nonacute GI bleed or nonacute epigastric pain?   EGD  
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Describe acute appendicitis in elderly. What happens to the mortality rate?   more subtle Sx (less abd pain, fever & CBC unreliable); high rate of rupture --> high rate of mortality;  
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Describe acute appendicitis in infants.   high rate of rupture, faster progression of illness, inability to complain or give Hx, bowel wall inefficient at walling off perforation␣infection spreads  
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Describe acute appendicitis in pregnant women. Does it occur with increased frequency? What trimesters?   most common extrauterine surgical emergency in pregnant women – but occurs w. same frequency as nonpregnant women; usually in 1st 2 trimesters  
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Acute appendicitis in pregnant women. What about it makes the diagnosis more difficult?   appendix laterally & superiorly displaced - Dx more difficult; also “Sx of pregnancy” like N/V confused for appendicitis Sx; may compromise fetus  
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