Acute Abdominal Pain - SP Exam Flashcards
DDx - diffuse abdominal pain (15)
- Bowel obstruction
- GI tract perforation
- Acute mesenteric ischemia
- IBD (UC/CD)
- Viral gastroenteritis
- Peritonitis
- Colorectal cancer
- Celiac disease
- Ketoacidosis
- Adrenal insufficiency
- Foodborne illness
- IBS
- Constipation
- Diverticulosis
- Lactose intolerance
- Colitis
- Diverticulitis
- Nephrolithiasis
- Pyelonephritis
- Muscle strain
- Herpes zoster
- Hernia
DDx - lower abdominal pain
- Appendicitis
- Diverticulitis
- Nephrolithiasis
- Pyelonephritis
- Acute urinary retention
- Cystitis
- Infectious colitis
- Gynecologic - ectopic pregnancy, fibroids, ovarian mass, ovarian torsion, PID, endometriosis
Which causes of lower abdominal pain localize to the RLQ generally?
Appendicitis
Which causes of lower abdominal pain localize to the LLQ generally?
Diverticulitis
Which causes of lower abdominal pain localize to the suprapubic area generally?
Acute urinary retention
Cystitis
Which causes of lower abdominal pain can be found in either quadrant?
Nephrolithiasis
Pyelonephritis
Infectious colitis
DDx - LUQ abdominal pain
Splenic problem (splenomegaly, splenic infarct, abscess, rupture)
Could also be cardiac (angina, MI, pericarditis), gastric (esophagitis, gastritis, PUD), pancreatic (mass, pancreatitis), vascular (aortic dissection)
DDx - epigastric abdominal pain
Acute MI Acute pancreatitis PUD GERD Gastritis/gastropathy Functional dyspepsia Gastroparesis Aortic dissection Pericarditis Esophagitis Biliary
DDx - RUQ abdominal pain
Biliary - colic (cholelithiasis), acute cholecystitis, acute cholangitis, Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction
Hepatic - acute hepatitis, perihepatitis, liver abscess, Budd-Chiari, portal vein thrombosis, mass
Less likely - pneumonia, PE
Pertinent positives and negatives - acute cholecystitis
Positives - prolonged (>4-6 hours) RUQ or epigastric pain, fever, Murphy’s sign, abdominal guarding, jaundice, may radiate to shoulder or back, N/V, anorexia, ingestion of fatty food 1+ hours before onset
Labs - leukocytosis, increased bands (left shift)
Diagnosis - imaging
Rx - admit (supportive care, determine surgical risk, cholecystectomy)
Pertinent positives and negatives - acute hepatitis
Positives - RUQ pain, jaundice, changes in urine/stool, fatigue, malaise, N/V, anorexia, pruritis, ascites/abdominal distention
PE - neuro (asterixis), skin (jaundice), ascites
Labs - prolonged PT-INR, markedly elevated ALT/AST, elevated bilirubin, low platelets
Diagnosis - elevated aminotransferase + hepatic encephalopathy + prolonged PT INR
Rx - supportive, work-up for cause (chemistries, liver, CBC, acteaminophen level, viral serologies, tox screen, AI markers, etc.)
Pertinent positives and negatives - PUD
Positives - concurrent, episodic gnawing or burning epigastric pain, pain relieved by food, nighttime awakening with pain, recent use of NSAIDs, nausea, hematemesis, melena
Labs - CBC (iron deficiency?)
Dx - upper endoscopy to visualize ulcer
Pertinent positives and negatives - pancreatitis
Positives - epigastric pain, pain relieved by sitting up and leaning forward, radiates to the back
Negatives - elevated lipase with normal amylase
Labs - elevated amylase, lipase, markers of immune activation (CRP, etc.), leukocytosis, elevated hematocrit
Diagnosis - 2/3 - acute onset of persistent, severe, epigastric pain often radiating to the back + elevation in serum lipase or amylase 3x or greater than upper limit of normal, + findings on CT/MRI/ultrasound
Pertinent positives and negatives - mesenteric ischemia
Positives - starts within one hour of eating, family history of DVT/PE, unintentional weight loss, abdominal pain out of proportion to the physical exam
Labs - non-specific
Dx - if unstable, resuscitate, plain abdominal films, surgery
if stable, CT
Pertinent positives and negatives - appendicitis
Positives: pain moves from periumbilical area to the RLQ, fever, psoas sign, rebound tenderness, rigidity, anorexia
Note - normal WBC count does not rule out appendicitis