Acute Abdomen Flashcards
define acute abdomen
any intra-abdominal disease process that leads to an acute onset of clinical signs
define acute abdomen
any intra abdominal disease process that leads to an acute onset of clinical signs
what is acute abdomen usually caused by?
inflammation of an organ
leakage of fluid from a damaged organ
entrapment of an organ
what are the clinical signs of an acute abdomen?
Increased RR and effort
increased HR
thready or poor PQ
pale and tacky MM with prolongued CRT or injected MM and rapid CRT
hypotension
hypothermic
collapsed or obtunded
hypersalivation and nausea
regurgitation
retching
vomiting
abdominal pain
distended abdomen
arrhythmias
what is indicated by pale and tacky MM and prolonged CRT?
hypovolaemia
what is indicated by injected (red) MM and rapid CRT?
sepsis
what may help to guide possible causes of abdominal pain?
sex
neuter status
breed - deep chested/large dogs
what are the main gastric causes of an acute abdomen?
GDV
FB
gastric ulceration or perforation
intussusception
what are the main abdominal causes of an acute abdomen?
septic peritonitis
blunt or penetrating abdominal trauma
mesenteric volulus
what are the main hepatic / pancreatic causes of an acute abdomen?
acute hepatitis
biliary obstruction or rupture
neoplasia
pancreatitis
splenic mass or torsion
what may be caused by a splenic mass?
haemoabdomen following rupture
what are the urogenital causes of an acute abdomen?
AKI
pylonephritis
urethral tear
uroabdomen
pyometra
prostatitis
what are the key signs of GDV?
retching and unproductive vomiting
hypersalivation
what occurs during GDV?
stomach dilates and rotates or twists
is GDV an emergency
obvs you idiot
life threatening
high risk of mortality
what can be seen following GDV if left for 2+ hours?
necrosis and septic peritonitis due to leakage of necrotic fluid
how is necrosis caused by GDV?
reduction in blood flow to GI tract and spleen
what type of shock is very commonly seen with GDV?
hypovolaemic
what CV effects are seen with GDV?
reduced cardiac output
systemic hypotension
why does GDV result in reduced cardiac output and systemic hypotension?
reduced venous flow due to compression of the vena cava by distended stomach
why are GDV patients in shock?
severely hypoperfused
what types of shock can be seen with GDV?
all 4
distributive
hypovolaemic
cardiogenic
obstructive
why are GDV patients in hypovolaemic shock?
reduced circulating volume leading to reduced venous return and so reduced SV and CO
why are GDV patients in distributive shock?
cytokine release causes vasodilation
this leads to leaky vessels and activation of coagulation
reduced venous return and so reduced SV and CO
what can distributive shock lead to?
SIRS and sepsis
what does SIRS stand for?
systemic inflammatory response syndrome
what is indicated by a GDV patient with SIRS or sepsis?
poor prognosis
why are GDV patients in cardiogenic shock?
reduction in venous return so reduced preload
stomach applies pressure to heart and lungs
reduction in contractility and so CO
why are GDV patients in obstructive shock
physical impediment of blood flow in vessels as they are collapsed due to the pressure from the stomach
reduced venous return and so SV/CO
what is the overall effect of all types of shock?
reduction in CO leading to poor perfusion and hypoxaemia
what is involved in stabilisation of GDV patients?
O2
IV
analgesia
IVFT
bloods
may need catecholamines
regular TPR and reevaluation
recording on hospital sheet
what is critical about IV placement in GDV patients?
as big as possible and preferably 2
no saphenous unless desperate
why are IVs in saphenous veins less useful in patients with shock?
peripheral vasoconstriction means reduction in perfusion of HL
drugs take longer to ave effect / reach site of action
what are the analgesia considerations for GDV patients?
opioids
avoid NSAIDs due to risk of AKI and gastic ulceration
what fluids can be used for fluid resuscitation?
hartmanns fine
hypertonic also ok for initial bolus
what is the main Hartmanns does range for fluid resuscitation?
20 ml/kg boluses
up to 80 ml/kg total
what is the consideration if hypertonic saline used?
less needed but fluid must be replaced with isotonic as soon as possible
how could hypertonic saline be included into fluid rescusitation?
initial dose with hypertonic
isotonic from then on
what patients is hypertonic saline not appropriate in?
dehydrated as will remove even more fluid from the tissues and worsen signs
what type of blood sample is ideal for GDV patients?
arterial
what analysis will be performed on blood samples of GDV patients?
blood gas
blood type
coags
PCV and TS
lactate
urea:creatinine
what is indicated by PCV and TS?
dehydration (increased PCV if deh)
what is indicated by lactate levels?
prognosis
high levels show high level of anaerobic activity
why may catecholamines be used in GDV patients?
increase vascular resistance and so cardiac output
what is seen on a GDV xray?
pylorus cranial and dorsal
what is US used for in GDV assessment?
POCUS for gas filled space or haemoabdomen
what is xray used for in GDV assessment?
confirmation of GD or GDV
assessment of thorax for aspiration pneumonia
why may GDV patients be at risk of aspiration pneumonia?
regurgitation
what must be done before gastric decompression begins?
fluid rescusitation must be underway
what is the aim of gastric decompression?
removal of fluid and gas from the stomach
what can happen to the patient as the stomach is decompressed?
become more ‘shocky’
why may patients become more ‘shocky’ as the stomach is decompressed?
sudden toxin release as pressure is reduced and blood flow is normalised