Acute Abdomen Flashcards
What are four routes to peritonitis?
Perforation of GI/ biliary tract
Female genital tract
Penetration of abdominal wall
Haematogenous spread
What are some causes of small intestine obstruction?
Previous surgery with the formation of intra-abdominal adhesions, including colorectal/gynaecological surgery, resection of intra-abdominal tumours, laparotomy for trauma
Inguinal hernia with incarceration; ventral, incisional, umbilical, and parastomal hernias
Crohn’s disease
Intestinal malignancy
Appendicitis.
Common causes of SBO in children include:
Appendicitis
Intussusception (bowel folds in on itself)
Intestinal atresia
Volvulus (bowel twists round itself)
What are the symptoms of a small bowel obstruction?
failure to pass flatus or stool abdominal pain vomiting abdominal distention abdominal tenderness absolute constipation peritonitis constipation palpable abdominal mass palpable rectal mass nausea fever tachycardia severe lethargy hypotension diarrhoea groin swelling
What are some causes of acute pancreatitis?
Alcohol consumption
Microlithiasis
Idiopathic
Hypertriglyceridaemia
Hypercalcaemia
Pancreatic malignancy
Post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (2% to 3%)
Trauma
Infections (mumps, mycoplasma, Epstein-Barr virus, Ascaris lumbricoides , HIV-related co-infections)
Drugs (e.g., furosemide, didanosine, oestrogens, azathioprine, thiazide diuretics, sulfonamides, tetracyclines, sulindac, mercaptopurine, valproic acid, L-asparaginase) [12] [13]
Autoimmune conditions (collagen vascular diseases)
Pancreas divisum
Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm
Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction
Heredity [4] [7]
Autoimmune (immunoglobulin G4-related) sclerosing acute pancreatitis.
What are four signs that can be seen in acute pancreatitis?
Grey-Turner Sign- Bilateral flank blue discoloration indicating haemorrhagic pancreatitis
Cullen’s Sign-Peri-umbilical blue discoloration indicating haemorrhagic pancreatitis
Fox’s sign-Ecchymosis over the inguinal ligament area
Chvostek’s sign-Facial muscle spasm when facial nerve is tapped
What treatments are given to acute pancreatitis patients?
Initial resuscitation
Analgesia and anti emetics
Calcium, magnesium and insulin replacements
Cholecystectomy if gallstones
What three signs can be seen in appendicitis?
Rovsing’s sign-Pressing the left side of the abdominal cavity and eliciting pain in right lower quadrant
Psoas sign-Extending the right thigh on left lateral position elicits pain in right lower quadrant
Obturator sign-Pain is elicited at right lower quadrant of abdomen by internal rotation of the flexed right thigh
