Acute Abdomen Flashcards
Right Upper Quadrant
(RUQ)
Organelle include the following:
— Liver — Right kidney — Gallbladder — Pancreas — Small / Large intestine — Aorta
Common Medical / Trauma Issues:
— Liver Failure / Liver Cancer — Kidney Failure / Stones — Gallbladder Stones (Biliary Colic) — Pancreatitis / Pancreatic Cancer — Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) — Obstructions / Ulcers — Crohn’s Disease — Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) — Aortic Dissection
Left Upper Quadrant
(LUQ)
Organelle include the following:
— Liver — Spleen — Left kidney — Stomach — Pancreas — Small / Large intestine — Aorta
Common Medical / Trauma Issues:
— Liver Failure / Liver Cancer — HIV (spleen) / TB (spleen) / Malaria — Kidney Failure / Stones — Stomach Ulcers / Cancer / Obstruction — Pancreatitis / Pancreatic Cancer — Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) — Obstructions / Ulcers — Crohn’s Disease — Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) — Aortic Dissection
Right Lower Quadrant
(RLQ)
Organelle include the following:
— Right Kidney — Colon — Small / Large Intestine — Ureter — Appendix (if not removed) — Bladder
Common Medical / Trauma Issues:
— Kidney Failure / Stones — Colon Cancer — Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) — Obstructions / Ulcers — Ureter Blockage / Tumors — Appendicitis — Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) — Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) — Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) — Aortic Dissection
Left Lower Quadrant
(LLQ)
Organelle includes the following:
— Left Kidney — Colon — Small / Large Intestine — Ureter — Bladder
Common Medical / Trauma Issues:
— Kidney Failure / Stones — Colon Cancer — Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) — Obstructions / Ulcers — Ureter Blockage / Tumors — Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) — Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) — Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) — Aortic Dissection
Acute Abdomen
(Inflammation)
The Acute Abdomen may be caused by an infection, inflammation, vascular occlusion, or obstruction.
The patient will usually present with sudden onset of abdominal pain with associated nausea or vomiting.
Examples:
— Appendicitis — Diverticulitis — Pancreatitis — Gastroenteritis — Colitis
Assessment Findings:
— Nausea — Tachycardia — Pallor / Diaphoresis — Diarrhea / Constipation — Chills / Fever — Syncope
Diagnosis:
— Note the patient’s positioning — Assess for any bruising / scars — Assess for any distention / masses — Palpate the abdomen — Document history of trauma / surgeries — Assess for hemorrhaging — Possibility of pregnancy — Any loss of appetite / appetite changes
Treatments:
— ABC’s — Supplemental O2 (as needed) — Transport patient in position of comfort — Do not allow patient to eat / drink — Consider ALS — Rapid transport
Acute Abdomen
(Infection)
The Acute Abdomen may be caused by an infection, inflammation, vascular occlusion, or obstruction.
The patient will usually present with sudden onset of abdominal pain with associated nausea or vomiting.
Examples:
— Appendicitis — Diverticulitis — Pancreatitis
Assessment Findings:
— Nausea — Tachycardia — Pallor / Diaphoresis — Diarrhea / Constipation — Chills / Fever — Syncope
Diagnosis:
— Note the patient’s positioning — Assess for any bruising / scars — Assess for any distention / masses — Palpate the abdomen — Document history of trauma / surgeries — Assess for hemorrhaging — Possibility of pregnancy — Any loss of appetite / appetite changes
Treatments:
— ABC’s — Supplemental O2 (as needed) — Transport patient in position of comfort — Do not allow patient to eat / drink — Treat patient for shock (as needed) — Consider ALS — Rapid transport
Acute Abdomen
(Obstruction)
The Acute Abdomen may be caused by an infection, inflammation, vascular occlusion, or obstruction.
The patient will usually present with sudden onset of abdominal pain with associated nausea or vomiting.
Examples:
— Bowel Obstruction — Kidney Stones / Failure — Gallbladder Stones (Biliary Colic) — Constipation
Assessment Findings:
— Nausea — Tachycardia — Pallor / Diaphoresis — Diarrhea / Constipation — Chills / Fever — Syncope
Diagnosis:
— Note the patient’s positioning — Assess for any bruising / scars — Assess for any distention / masses — Palpate the abdomen — Document history of trauma / surgeries — Assess for hemorrhaging — Possibility of pregnancy — Any loss of appetite / appetite changes
Treatments:
— ABC’s — Supplemental O2 (as needed) — Transport patient in position of comfort — Do not allow patient to eat / drink — Consider ALS — Rapid transport
Acute Abdomen
(Hemorrhage)
The Acute Abdomen may be caused by an infection, inflammation, vascular occlusion, or obstruction.
The patient will usually present with sudden onset of abdominal pain with associated nausea or vomiting.
Examples:
— Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) — Aortic Dissection — Ulcers — Liver / Pancreatic Cancer — Traumatic Hemorrhaging — Esophagea
Assessment Findings:
— Nausea — Tachycardia — Pallor / Diaphoresis — Diarrhea / Constipation — Chills / Fever — Syncope
Diagnosis:
— Note the patient’s positioning — Assess for any bruising / scars — Assess for any distention / masses — Palpate the abdomen — Document history of trauma / surgeries — Assess for hemorrhaging — Possibility of pregnancy — Any loss of appetite / appetite changes
Treatments:
— ABC’s — Supplemental O2 — Transport patient in position of comfort — Do not allow patient to eat / drink — Treat patient for shock (as needed) — Consider ALS — Rapid transport
Ascites
An abnormal pooling of bodily fluid in the abdomen due to a trauma or underlying medical condition.
