1. Abdominal Pain/Problems - ACD

Question 1

Suspected Aortic Aneurysm

Answer 1

A condition in which a patient
presents simultaneously with “tearing” or “ripping” pain in the back or flank and in the abdomen.

Question 2

Heart Attack Symptoms (most common in chest, may also/or only present in arm, jaw, neck, or upper back) - Should be considered equivalent to chest pain and handled on Protocol 10

Answer 2

Aching pain, chest pain/discomfort (now gone), constricting band, crushing discomfort, heaviness, numbness, pressure, tightness

Question 3

First Law of Fainting

Answer 3

Near fainting is best described as “almost fainted” and should be considered the same as fainting (not just dizzy)

Question 4

Common Causes of Abdo Pain

Answer 4

Gallbladder disease, gastritis, gastroenteritis (stomach flu), pelvic inflammatory disease, peptic ulcer disease

Question 5

Less Common Causes of Abdo Pain

Answer 5

Abdominal aneurysm, appendicitis, bowel obstruction, ectopic pregnancy

Question 6

Rule 1

Answer 6

Epigastric pain (above navel) in cardiac age-range patients (females ≥ 45, males ≥ 35) is considered a “heart attack” until proven otherwise

Question 7

Rule 2

Answer 7

Abdominal pain in a female of child-bearing age (12-50) who has fainted (or nearly fainted) is considered an ectopic pregnancy until proven otherwise

Question 8

Rule 3

Answer 8

Alert patients with abdominal pain and a confirmed diagnosis of aortic aneurysm should be coded as 1-C-2

Question 9

Rule 4

Answer 9

Testicle or groin pain in am ale patient is considered a testicular torsion condition (twisting off of a testicle’s blood supply) until proven otherwise

Question 10

Rule 5

Answer 10

Pain described as at the level of the navel should be considered below the navel

Question 11

Rule 6

Answer 11

Abdominal pain/cramping anytime during pregnancy should be considered contractions until proven otherwise

Question 12

Axiom 1

Answer 12

True abdominal pain, except in unusual cases, is not a prehospital emergency

Question 13

Axiom 2

Answer 13

Severity of pain is not related to the seriousness of the problem

Question 14

Axiom 3

Answer 14

Ectopic pregnancies often present before the patient knows she is pregnant

Question 15

Axiom 4

Answer 15

Abdominal pain and/or back pain associated with reported ashen or gray skin colour in patients ≥ 50 may indicate a bleeding aortic aneurysm