ACUTE ABDOMEN Flashcards
What are the differential diagnoses for right upper hypochondrium pain?
Cholecystitis Ascending Cholangitis Biliary Colic Hepatitis Duodenal ulcer Basal pneumonia Choledocholithiasis
What are the four main causes of hepatitis?
NASH
Alcohol
Viral
Toxins (eg Paracetamol)
What is the triad associated with ascending cholangitis?
Charcot:
Spiking fever
Rigors
Jaundice
What is biliary colic?
Biliary colic is the term used to describe a type of pain related to the gallbladder that occurs when a gallstone transiently obstructs the cystic duct and the gallbladder contracts.
How might you differentiate cholecystitis in an acute abdomen from something like ascending cholangitis or choledocholithiasis?
Murphy’s sign - get patient to breath out. Place hand under rib cage in mid-clavicular line and then get patient to breath in. A positive sign is if the patient ‘catches’ with pain as they breath out. A positive sign is associated with cholecystitis.
What is ascending cholangitis?
An infection of the bile duct (cholangitis), usually caused by bacteria ascending from its junction with the duodenum (first part of the small intestine). It tends to occur if the bile duct is already partially obstructed by gallstones.
What will blood tests in someone with ascending cholangitis show?
Raised ALP
Raised bilirubin
How is someone with ascending cholangitis treated?
Fluids
Broad spectrum antibiotics and those that can target gram negative bacteria - cephalosporins, metranidazole, aminoglycosides (gentamicin)
ERCP
Cholecystectomy
What is choledocholithiasis?
A gall stone anywhere between the exit of the gall bladder and the ampullae (the biliary tree).
What might precipitate biliary colic?
Eating fatty foods
How long does a classic bout of biliary colic last?
Can be 5-10 minutes but often lasts more than 30 mins.
Where does biliary colic pain radiate?
Radiates to the back and shoulder and across the epigastrium.
What is cholelithiasis?
Gallstones in the gall bladder
Is fever associated with biliary colic?
No.
What do blood tests in someone with biliary colic show?
Normal ranges for LFTs.