Acute Abdominal Pain Flashcards
Indications for prompt surgical evaluation of acute abdominal pain
- Hx abdominal trauma
- Worse w/ movement
- Involuntary guarding
- Rebound tenderness
- Tenderness with percussion
- Signs of bleeding? (may not require surgery, but need to be addressed)
Common causes of acute abdominal pain in neonates
Adhesions*, necrotizing enterocolitis*, volvulus*, colic, dietary protein allergy, testicular torsion
*life threatening
Common causes of acute abdominal pain: 2 months to 2 years
Adhesions*, foreign body ingestion*, hemolytic uremic syndrome*, hirschsprung disease*, incarcerated hernia*, intussusception*, trauma*, gastroenteritis, viral illness, dietary protein allergy, hepatitis, Meckel’s diverticulum, sickle cell syndrome vasoocclusive crisis, toxin, tumor, UTI
*life threatening
Common causes of acute abdominal pain: 2 to 5 years
Adhesions*, appendicitis*, foreign body ingestion*, hemolytic uremic syndrome*, intussusception*, primary bacterial peritonitis*, trauma*, gastroenteritis, viral illness, pharyngitis, constipation
Henoch Schönlein Purpura, hepatitis, intraabdominal abscess, Meckel’s diverticulum, UTI, ovarian torsion, pneumonia, sickle cell syndrome vasoocclusive crisis, toxin, tumor
*life threatening
Common causes of acute abdominal pain: >5years
Adhesions*, appendicitis*, diabetic ketoacidosis*, hemolytic uremic syndrome*, myocarditis*, pericarditis*, perforated ulcer*, primary bacterial peritonitis*, trauma*, gastroenteritis, viral illness, pharyngitis, constipation
Abdominal migraine, cholecystitis, familial Mediterraneal fever, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Henoch Schönlein Purpura, hepatitis, intraabdominal abscess, Meckel’s diverticulum, pancreatitis, UTI, testicular torsion, ovarian torsion, ruptured ovarian cyst, pneumonia, sickle cell syndrome vasoocclusive crisis, urolithiasis
*life threatening
What to suspect with epigastric pain?
GER/D, esophagitis, gastritis, gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, pancreatitis, gastric volvulus, small bowel volvulus, erythromycin induced, NSAID induced
What to suspect with hypogastric pain?
Constipation, colon spasm, colitis, bladder disease, uterine conditions, PID
What to suspect with periumbilical pain?
Functional disease, constipation, gastroenteritis, early appendicitis, pancreatitis, small bowel volvulus, henoch schonlein Purpura, incarcerated umbilical hernia
What to suspect with RUQ pain?
Hepatitis, cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, biliary colic, cholangitis, RLL pneumonia, kidney disease, UTI
What to suspect with RLQ pain?
Constipation, mesenteric adenitis, crohn disease, acute obstruction, localized perforation, appendicitis, intussusception, ovarian torsion, ectopic pregnancy, testicular torsion, hernia
What to suspect with LUQ pain?
Splenomegaly, splenic infarction, tramatic spleen injury, LLL pneumonia, kidney disease, UTI
What to suspect with LLQ pain?
Constipation, colon spasm, colitis, ovarian torsion, ectopic pregnancy, testicular torsion, hernia, sigmoid volvulus
What to suspect with diffuse abdominal pain?
Gastroenteritis, perforation, constipation, functional disease, colic, strep pharyngitis, intussusception, IBD, Henoch-Schonlein Purpura, DKA, porphyria, SSC, volvulus, abdominal migraine, cyclic vomiting syndrome, lead poisoning, iron ingestion, familial Mediterranean fever, angioneurotic edema, venomous bite
Examples of abdominal pain that varies in location?
Trauma, infarction, gluten-sensitivity enteropathy
What is NEC?
Most common emergency for newborns
Ischemic necrosis of intestinal mucosa associated w/inflammation, invasion of enteric gas forming organisms, dissection of gas into muscularis and portal venous system
Causes NEC
Definitive cause unknown
Heterogeneous factors implicated:
- Prematurity
- Microbial bowel overgrowth
- Milk feeding
- Impaired mucosal defense
- Circulatory instability of the intestinal tract
- ·Medications that cause intestinal mucosal injury or enhance microbial overgrowth
S/S of NEC
- Abdominal tenderness
- Vomiting
- Abdominal distension
- Poor feeding
- Respiratory distress
- Irritability and later lethargy
PE findings of NEC
- Tachypnea or apnea
- Temp instability
- Hypotension (late sign)
- Abdominal distension/discoloration
- Pallor
- Emesis/residuals – bilious or non-bilious
- Abdominal guarding
- Bloody stools/rectal drainage
- Decreased or absent bowel sounds
Diagnostics for NEC: Labs
- *PE & VS can be best diagnostics
- CBC w/manual diff:
- Leukocytosis à neutropenia (low ANC)
- Left shift
- Thrombocytopenia
- Anemia (if bloody stools)
- Elevated CRP
- Blood culture: + if NEC 2/2 sepsis OR if intestinal perf à sepsis
- Coagulation studies for DIC
- Electrolytes: dehydration if 3rd spacing
- Blood gas: possible hypercarbia & metabolic acidosis
Diagnostics for NEC: radiographic
- A/P and Left decubitis X-rays
- Disorganized bowel gas pattern
- Distended bowel loops
- Gasless bowel loops
- Hallmark signs: pneumotosis of bowel wall (tiny air bubbles) +/- pneumoperitoneum (free air w/in abdominal cavity) +/- portal venous air
Treatment for NEC
Medical mgmt: NPO, antibiotics, supportive therapy
Surgical MGMT (most often): Excision of necrotic bowel segments and creation of ostomies/fistulas, Cleaning out of peritoneal cavity
What is volvulus?
- Small bowel twists around superior mesenteric artery –> vascular compromise in large portions of midgut.
- Can lead to ischemia and necrosis if not corrected.
Causes of volvulus
- Incomplete rotation of bowel during embryologic dvpt
- Malrotation
-
Ladd’s Bands: peritoneal bands that cross over the duodenum and fixate the cecum to the peritoneal wall
- with abnormal rotation/fixation may cause compression of duodenum (obstruction)
- s/p surgery likely 2/2 adhesions
S/S of volvulus
- Abdominal pain w/crying (constant or episodic)
- Pulling up of legs toward chest
- Vomiting (non-bilious or bilious –can indicate emergency!)
- Blood in stool (late sign)
PE findings volvulus
- Distended abdomen
- Abdominal guarding
- Decreased bowel sounds
- s/s of shock (late)
Diagnostics for volvulus
- Labs: dependent on condition
- Stool: blood
- A/P abdominal x-ray: not diagnostic: dilated stomach and proximal duodenum (double bubble)
- GOLD STANDARD: upper GI study w/water soluble contrast (cork screw small bowel)
Tx for volvulus
- Preop: stabilization
- Surgical repair: laparoscopy untwists bowel: cut ladd bands, appendectomy, tube through duodenum to r/o obstruction
What is intussusception?
- Intestine is telescoped into adjacent bowel. Most commonly at junction of ileum and colon.
- May lead to lymphatic congestion w/resulting intestinal edema –> ischemia–> perforation –> peritonitis
Causes of intussusception
- Unknown in infants.
- Risk factors:
- polyps, tumor, Meckel diverticulum, etc.
- Some association w/viral illnesses
- Crohn’s and surgery, esp in older
Symptoms intussusception
- Abdominal pain w/colicky crying, >3h but episodic
- Pulling of legs toward chest
- Lethargy
- Vomiting
PE findings of intussusception
- Distended abdomen
- Abdominal guarding
- Pallor
- Abdominal mass in rt abdomen (sausage like)
- Classic sign: red currant jelly stool –sign vascular compromise
Diagnostics for intussusception
- Stabilize preprocedure (antibiotics only if perf)
- U/S or fluoroscopy guided non-operative reduction: tx of choice w/o perf
- If non-op fails or if perf: surgical reduction
Two causes to testicular torsion?
- Neonatal TT: rare. Extravaginal. Twisting of spermatic cord, compromising vasculature to testes
- Intravaginal torsion: inadequate fixation of testis to tunica vaginalis –> testis may twist on spermatic cord w/in tunica vaginalis–> venous compression –> edema of testicle and cord –> ischemia of testicle.
Symptoms of testicular torsion
Scrotal pain radiating to abdomen (constant or episodic)
N/V
PE findings testicular torsion
- Scrotal edema, induration and erythema or bluish coloring
- Tenderness, swelling, slight elevation of affected testis
- Testis may be horizontal
- Reactive hydrocele possible
- Cremasteric reflex absent >6mo old
Diagnostics for testicular torsion
- Clinical w/ acute onset severe testicular pain, N/V, absent cremasteric reflex, testicular changes on PE
- Dopper U/S: assess testicular blood flow and twisting of SC. Can be helpful but not necessary. In fact, may delay tx.
Tx for testicular torsion
- Immediate: pediatric surgeon / urologist!
- Surgical detorsion (w/in 4-6h preferred to preserve viability)
- Nonviable testis: orchiectomy
What is gastroenteritis?
- Infection or inflammation of digestive system
- Clinical syndrome defined by 3+ loose or watery stools in 24h OR # of loose/watery BMs that exceeds usual BMs by 2+
- W/or w/o vomiting or fever
Duration of gastroenteritis
Usually less than one week and not longer than 2
Common viral causes of gastroenteritis
Rotavirus (diarrhea), norovirus (vomiting), sapovirus, astrovirus, enteric adenovirus