Acute Abdomen

Question 1

What is acute abdomen

Answer 1

It is an abdominal condition of sudden onset (usually less than 24hrs duration) that demands urgent and specific diagnosis and may require immediate operative treatment. Pain is a usual but not a constant feature. May be absent in acute abdomen in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy and the aged.

Question 2

What are the challenges for an acute abdomen

Answer 2

There are many different organs contained within the peritoneal cavity with their pathologies presenting in different ways
There is a potential for referred pain.

Question 3

What are some diseases that are associated with the epigastric region

Answer 3

Peptic ulcer disease
Cholecystitis
Pancreatitis
MI

Question 4

What are some diseases associated with the peri-umbilical region

Answer 4

Small and large bowel obstruction
Appendicitis
Abdominal aortic aneurysm

Question 5

What are some diseases associated with the RUQ

Answer 5

Cholecystitis
Pyelonephritis
Ureteric colic
Hepatitis
Pneumonia

Question 6

What are some diseases associated with the LUQ

Answer 6

Gastric ulcer
Pyelonephritis
Ureteric colic
Pneumonia

Question 7

What are some diseases associated with the RLQ

Answer 7

Appendicitis
Ureteric colic
Inguinal hernia
IBD
UTI
Gynecological
Testicular torsion

Question 8

What are some diseases associated with the LLQ

Answer 8

Diverticulitis
Ureteric colic
Inguinal hernia
IBD
UTI
Gynecological
Testicular torsion

Question 9

In an acute abdomen, clinical scenarios can change rapidly such that conclusions previously reached may need to be revised as events evolve. It is therefore necessary to be open-minded so that previous diagnoses can be changed when the need arises
True or false

Answer 9

True

Question 10

What are the classifications of acute abdomen

Answer 10

Based on the area of the abdomen most affected by pain
Based on the condition that gave rise to acute abdomen

Question 11

What are the types of abdominal pain

Answer 11

Visceral
Parietal
Referred

Question 12

Talk about visceral pain

Answer 12

It is due to stretching of fibres innervating solid and hollow viscus
It occurs early and is poorly localised
It can be due to ischemia or inflammation

Question 13

Talk about parietal pain

Answer 13

It is caused by irritation of the parietal peritoneum
It occurs late and better localised
It is usually localised to the dermatome overlying tissue with painful stimuli

Question 14

Talk about referred pain

Answer 14

Pain is felt at a site away from the pathological organ. Pattern is based on developmental embryology