Abdominal Pain and Acute Abdominal Disorders Flashcards
characteristics of visceral pain
- slow onset
- poorly localized
- dull discomfort
characteristics of somatic pain
- sudden
- sharp
- well localized
- lateralizing
it may be necessary to wait as long as ____ minutes to establish absence of peristalsis
2-3
Carnett sign
flex stomach to determine if pain is located in the abdominal wall or intraabdominally
if pain when flexed carnett is positive and pain is abdominal wall pain
murphy’s sign
patient takes a slow, deep breath in and there is an abrupt cessation in inspiration by deep palpation of the RUQ
what is murphy’s sign indicative of?
cholecystitis
rovsing sign
RLQ pain elicited by pressure applied on the lower left quadrant
what is rovsing sign indicative of?
appendicitis
psoas sign
patient flexed the thigh against the resistance of the examiner’s hand
what is psoas sign indicative of?
appendicitis
obturator sign
patient’s thigh is flexed to a right angle and gently rotated, first internally and then externally
what is obturator sign indicative of?
- appendicitis
- diverticulitis
- PID
management of abdominal pain
- stabilize
- NPO
- IV hydration
- analgesics
- antiemetics
- consult
indications for admission of abdominal pain
- toxic appearance
- unclear diagnosis
- inability to exclude serious etiology
- intractable pain or vomiting
- altered mental status
- inability to follow discharge or F/U instructions
volvulus
torsion of a segment of the bowel
types of volvulus
- MC sigmoid
- cecal
t/f some volvulus may reduce spontaneousley
true
pathophys of sigmoid volvulus
air filled loop of the sigmoid colon twists about its mesentery
risk factors for sigmoid volvulus
- long, redundant sigmoid colon w/ a narrow mesenteric attachment
- chronic fecal overloading from constipation
clinical presentation of sigmoid volvulus
insidious onset of slowly progressive abdominal pain, nausea, abdominal distention, and constipation
vomiting in volvulus usually occurs…
several hours after onset
PE of sigmoid volvulus
- abdominal distention and tympany
- tenderness to palpation
diagnosis of sigmoid volvulus
abdominal CT showing whirl patterns and birds beak
imaging used for volvulus when there isnt access to CT
radiographs
management of sigmoid volvulus
- reduce volvulus
- IV fluids
- endoscopic detorsion with rigid sigmoidoscope
- surgical exploration with gangrene
cecal volvulus
torsion of a mobile cecum and ascending colon
in cecal volvulus, rotation occurs around the…
ileocolic blood vessels
risk factors for cecal volvulus
- pregnancy
- tumors
- exertion
- violent coughing
- infections
- weakness of colon muscle
clinical findings of cecal volvulus
gradual onset of steady abdominal pain with episodic cramping due to peristalsis
PE of cecal volvulus
- distended and tympanic abdomen
- tenderness to palpation
- fever
- hypotension
diagnosis of cecal volvulus
- initially, a plain radiograph will be done
- CT is first line and confirmatory
results of plain radiography of cecal volvulus
- coffee bean sign
- comma sign
results of CT with cecal volvulus
whirlwind sign
results of barium GI series for cecal volvulus
birds beak
t/f cecal volvulus can not be detorsed endoscopically
true
management of cecal volvulus stable without bowel compromise
open surgical detorsion, then iliocecal resection
management of cecal volvulus hemodynamically unstable without bowel compromise
cecopexy after detorsion
t/f you should detorse when the patient has bowel compromise
false