Abdominal Pain Flashcards
Epigastric/umbilical pain, burning or sharp. Associated nausea, vomiting, feeling bloated.
Gastritis (inflammation of stomach lining) / Peptic Ulcers
Risk factors for Gastritis/Peptic Ulcers?
Long term NSAID use, recreational drug use, chronic smoker.
Complications may lead to GI bleeding.
Dull central/upper pain, can radiate into back. Fever, nausea/vomiting. Can be acute or chronic, often related to chronic alcohol consumption.
Pancreatitis
(Inflammation of pancreas)
Assessment findings for Pancreatitis?
Blue-tinged right flank region, tenderness on palpation.
Generalised/umbilical pain, radiates into right lower quadrant. Associated nausea/vomiting, fever, constipation or diarrhea.
Appendicitis
(Inflammation of appendix)
Assessment findings for Appendicitis?
Right lower quadrant tenderness, rebound tenderness, positive McBurney’s, Rovsing’s and Aaron’s sign.
Global abdo pain and tenderness (rebound?), distended abdomen.
Reduced urine output, altered bowel habits. Lethargy/fatigue, fever, nausea/vomiting, confusion, thirst.
Can be secondary to abdo trauma or infections (e.g. appendicitis).
Peritonitis
(Inflammation of peritoneum - intestine lining)
Intermittent cramping epigastric pain, D&V, fever.
Gastroenteritis
(Inflammation of stomach and intestines)
RUQ or epigastric pain, pain colicky in nature, often severe. May be exacerbated by eating fatty foods. May be associated with nausea and vomiting.
Biliary Colic
(Gallstone stuck in the cystic duct)
Assessment findings for Biliary Colic?
It is NOT associated with fever or abdominal tenderness.
RUQ or epigastric pain, often sharp or cramping, or dull and spasmodic, can radiate into the right shoulder or back. Associated nausea/vomiting, and fever.
Cholecystitis
(Inflammation of the gall bladder)
Assessment findings for Cholecystitis?
RUQ/epigastric tenderness, positive Murphy’s sign, guarding.
RUQ or generalised pain, fever, jaundice, nausea and vomiting. May be low BP and altered GCS.
Ascending Cholangitis
What is Charcot’s Triad and Reynold’s Pentad?
Charcot’s Triad - fever, jaundice, RUQ pain.
Reynold’s Pentad - Charcot’s Triad plus low BP, and altered mental state = Septic shock.
Chronic, often diagnosed. Typically global abdominal pain, PR bleeding, mouth sores, pain on opening bowels, weight loss, pain around anus due to inflammation of fistula.
Crohn’s disease (inflammation, often ileum or colon) / Ulcerative colitis (inflammation of large intestine and rectum)
Sharp waves of global abdo pain, history of pelvic inflammatory disease. PV bleeding/discharge, syncope, shoulder tip pain.
Ectopic Pregnancy
Hypogastric abdominal pain and/or pelvic pain. Pain whilst urinating. Vaginal discharge with an unpleasant odour.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
Long and painful periods, lower back pain, lower back pain during period, pain during intercourse. PV bleeding. Pain during bowel movement and/or urination.
Endometriosis
PV bleeding, pelvic pain, dull ache in the lower back and thighs. Unable to completely empty bladder or bowels, breast tenderness.
Ovarian Cysts
Fatigue, pale, SOB, dizziness or lightheadedness, melaena (dark sticky faeces - blood), haematemesis (vomiting blood), abdominal pain.
GI Bleed
Hypogastric pain, lower back pain/tenderness. Burning/stinging when urinating, increased frequency with reduced output. Confusion, fever.
Urinary Tract Infection
Absent bowel sounds, global abdo pain, bloated abdomen. Constipation leading to diarrhea, faecal vomiting (late symptom).
Bowel Obstruction
Severe pain, can radiate into the lower back. Associated dizziness, pale clammy and sweaty skin, nausea/vomiting, syncope, hypotension.
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Severe poorly localised, diffuse pain. Suspect in patients with co-existing AF. Recent MI or heart surgery also a risk factor. Heart murmur may be a clue.
Mesenteric Ischaemia
