Acute Abdomen Flashcards
Is visceral pain vague or precise? What is an example?
Vague
(ex: crampy, colicky, etc)
Ex: Early appendicitis
Is parietal pain vague or precise?
Precise
(ex: sharp, well definied, constant)
ex= Late appendicitis
What referred pain is seen in biliary (gallbladder) disease?
Right scapular/shoulder pain
What is guarding vs. rigidity? Which one is involuntary vs voluntary?
- Guarding- Voluntary contraction of musculature
- Rigidity- Involuntary contraction
What is the name of the following physical exam sign? What does it indicate?
Cullens sign
Retroperitoneal hemorrhage (pancreas, kidneys, parts of intestine, aorta)
What is the name of the following physical exam sign? What does it indicate?
Grey Turner’s Sign
= Retroperitoneal hemorrhage
26y/o M presents with abdominal pain and N/V x24 hours. Pain initially located near umbilicus but now is at RLQ. What is the dx?
Appendicitis
What is the diagnostic test of choice in kids for appendicitis?
Ultrasound
What is Rovsing’s sign?
Pain in RLQ when palpating the LLQ
= Appendicitis
What is the iliopsoas sign?
elicited by having supine patient keep right knee extended and flex right hip while examiner resists
= Appendicitis
What is the obturator sign?
•elicited by having supine patient flex right knee to 90°, examiner int/externally rotates hip = Appendicitis
What is the treatment of choice for appendicitis?
Appendectomy
A 44y/o F comes in c/o epigastric pain after eating fried chicken that radiates to the right scapula. She has a (+) Murphy’s sign.
What is Murphy’s sign and what does this patient most likely have?
- Murphy’s sign – inspiratory arrest elicited by palpating RUQ
- Cholecystitis
The following is classic sxs of what condition?
•Intermittent RUQ pain radiating to right shoulder with N/V associated with ingestion of fatty meal or large meal after fast
Cholecystitis
What are the risk factors for Cholecystitis? (5 F’s)
- Fat
- Female
- Forty
- Flatulent
- Fertile
(could also include fair skinned, family and foreign)
What is the test of choice for diagnosing cholecystitis?
HIDA scan
What is Charcot’s Triad and what condition is this indicative of?
*** most likely a test question***
Charcot’s triad= Fever, Jaundice, RUQ pain
–> Cholangitis
What is Reynold’s Pentad?
Fever
Jaundice
RUQ pain
Confusion
Shock
= Cholangitis--> EMERGENCY (100% mortality if not tx properly)
(F + Jaundice + RUQ pain= Charcot’s triad)
A person comes in with fever, jaundice, RUQ pain, confusion and shock. How do you treat this?
- This is Reynold’s triad= Cholangitis
- The confusion and shock make this an emergency. Tx w/
- IV fluids (aggressive)
- IV antibiotics
- Operating Room
What 3 things cause pain out of proportion to exam?
- Compartment syndrome
- Necrotizing Faciitis
- Mesenteric ischemia
A 73 y/o F presents c/o generalized abdominal pain that is poorly localized and is associated w/ N/V. On exam, abdomen is relatively soft but she complains of severe pain (pain out of proportion to exam).
Based on her history, physical exam findings and the attached radiographic finding, what does this patient have?
Mesenteric ischemia
What are the 6 risk factors for Mesenteric ischemia?
- >60y/o
- A-fib
- ASVD
- Decreased ejection fraction (CHF, recent MI)
- Hypercoagulable states
- Hypotension
T/F: A patient w/ Mesenteric ischemia will have a metabolica acidosis (lactic acid)
True
Lactate is from anaerobic metabolism
What is the treatment of choice for Mesenteric Ischemia?
Arteriography
Heparin
Antibiotics
What is the triad of sxs for an ectopic pregnancy?
1. Pelvic pain (RLQ/LLQ)
2. Amenorrhea
3. Vaginal bleeding
(on ultrasound, patient will have a normal, empty uterus with a (+) preg test)
What is the MC location of an ectopic pregnancy?
Isthmus of fallopian tube
The following are risk factors for what?
- PID
- Prior ectopic pregnancy
- IUD
- IVF or fertility drugs
- Prior tubal surgery (reconstruction or tubal coagulation)
- Cigarette smoking
- Increasing age
Ectopic pregnancy