Acute emergencies and pre-hospital care Flashcards
How does acute appendicitis present ?
Central abdominal colic progresses and localises in the right iliac fossa.
Worsens on movement and coughing, laughing
May have :
Dysuria
Nausea + - vomiting
Rarely diarrhoea
What is seen on examination in acute appendicitis ?
Discomfort on walking
Flushed and unwell - pyrexia
Tenderness and guarding in the right iliac fossa
What is seen in investigations in acute appendicitis ?
Urinalysis - NAD or trace of blood
What is the management of an acute appendicitis ?
Admit as a surgical emergency
What are some differential diagnoses for acute abdominal pain that aren’t GI causes ?
Renal colic
UTI
Pyelonephritis
Hydronephrosis
Ectopic pregnancy
Ovarian torsion
Dysmenorrhea
Ruptured spleen
Testicular torsion
What are some differential diagnoses of acute abdominal pain that is GI causes ?
IBS
Constipation
Diverticular disease
Gallbladder disease - biliary colic, cholecystitis
Liver disease
Crohn’s
UC
Peptic ulcer
Appendicitis
GI malignancy
What conditions may increase the risk of rupturing spleen ?
Glandular fever
Malaria
Leukaemia
How does a ruptured spleen present ?
History of abdominal trauma
Blood loss - tachycardia, low BP+/- postural drop, pallor
Peritoneal irritation : guarding, abdo rigidity, shoulder tip pain
Paralytic ileus - abdominal distension, lack of bowel sounds
What to do if a ruptured spleen is suspected ?
Admit as a blue-light surgical emergency
How does biliary colic present ?
Clear cut attacks of severe upper abdominal pain that may radiate - - back / shoulder tip, lasting under 30 minutes and causes restlessness +/- jaundice, nausea and vomiting
what is seen on examination of biliary colic ?
Tenderness and guarding in the RUQ
Increased on deep inspiration - Murphy’s sign
What is the acute management of biliary colic ?
Treat with pethidine or Diclofenac + prochlorperazine or Domperidone for nausea
When should biliary colic be admitted as a surgical emergency ?
Uncertain of diagnosis
Inadequate social support
Persistent symptoms despite analgesia
Suspicion of complications
What follow up investigations should be performed for biliary colic ?
Abdominal USS
How does acute cholecystitis present ?
Pain and tenderness in the RUQ/ epigastrium +/- vomiting
What is seen on examination in acute cholecystitis ?
Tenderness +/- guarding in the RUQ +/- fever or jaundice
What is the acute management on acute cholecystitis ?
Treat with broad spectrum antibiotics ( ciprofloxacin ) and analgesia for biliary colic
When should a person with acute cholecystitis be admitted for emergency surgery ?
Generalised peritonism or very toxic
Diagnosis uncertain
Other medical conditions such as dehydration, DM, addisons or pregnancy
Not responding to medication
How does acute pancreatitis present ?
Poorly localised, continuous, boring epigastric pain that increases over an hour period - often worse when lying down and may radiate to the back. Accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
What is seen on examination in acute pancreatitis ?
Tachycardia
Fever
Shock
Jaundice
Localised epigastric pain or generalised abdominal tenderness
Abdominal distension
Decreased bowel sounds
What is the management of acute pancreatitis ?
Admit as an acute surgical emergency
What are some complications of acute pancreatitis ?
Persistent pain
Failure to regain weight
Pancreatic necrosis
Pseudocyst
Fistula / abscess formation
Bleeding or thrombosis
How can a person prevent further attacks of acute pancreatitis ?
Avoid risk factors such as alcohol and drugs
Advise patients to follow a low fat diet
Treat reversible causes - Hyperlipidaemia or gallstones
What is an intestinal obstruction ?
Blockage of the bowel due to either a mechanical obstruction or failure of peristalsis
What are some causes of intestinal obstruction ?
Adhesions
Malignancy
Hernia
IBD
Diverticulitis
Constipation
Medications
How does intestinal obstruction present ?
Anorexia
Nausea and vomiting
Colicky central abdominal pain + distension
Absolute constipation
What is seen on examination in intestinal obstruction ?
Uncomfortable and restless
Abdominal distension +/- tenderness
Active tinkling sounds or quiet/ silent sounds ( later )
What is the management of intestinal obstruction ?
Admit as a surgical emergency
What is a sigmoid volvulus ?
It occurs in people who have a redundant colon on a long mesentery with a narrow base. The sigmoid loop twists causing intestinal obstruction. This causes the loop to be ischaemic
What are some risk factors for a sigmoid volvulus ?
Constipation
Laxatives
Tranquillisers
How does a sigmoid volvulus present ?
Acute onset of abdominal distension and colicky abdominal pain with complete constipation and absence of flatulence. There may be a history of repeated attacks.
What is the management of a sigmoid volvulus ?
Admit acutely to hospital
Treat by passing a flatus tube and / or surgery
What should be done following treatment of a sigmoid volvulus ?
To decrease recurrence prevent constipation and stop tranquillisers
What is intussusception ?
The invagination of one part of the bowel into the lumen of the immediately adjoining bowel. It is the commonest cause of intestinal obstruction in young children and usually occurs in previously healthy children. Peak age 5-8 months old
How does intussusception present ?
Abdominal colic - paroxysms of pain during which the child draws up their legs - the child usually screams in pain and becomes pale.
Vomiting is an early sign
Rectal bleeding or slime
Sausage shaped mass in the abdomen usually RUQ
What is a risk of not treating intussusception quickly ?
The child becomes rapidly worse and can become toxic. An obstructive picture can occur when the abdomen becomes distended and there is faeculent vomiting.
What are some other differentials for intussusception ?
Gastroenteritis
Constipation
Haemolytic uraemic syndrome
What is an ischaemic bowel ?
Interruption of the blood supply of the bowel.
What is the difference between primary and secondary ischaemic bowel ?
Primary - usually due to wither a mesenteric embolus from the right side of the heart or a venous thrombosis an usually presents in elderly people with pre-existing heart conditions
Secondary. Usually due to an intestinal obstruction
How does ischaemic bowel present ?
Sudden onset of abdominal pain that rapidly becomes severe
There may be a history of pain after meals prior to the event.
What can be seen on examination in ischameic bowel ?
Very unwell
In shock
May be in AF
Generalised tenderness but normally no guarding or rebound
What is the management of ischameic bowel ?
Give opiate analgesia
Admit as a surgical emergency
How does acute diverticulitis present ?
Altered bowel habit
Colicky left sided abdominal pain - may cause guarding
Fever
Malaise +/ nausea
Flatulence
What is the management for acute diverticulitis ?
Treat with oral antibiotics - co-amoxiclav or ciprofloxacin
There may also be some benefit from a low residue diet
What are some complications of acute diverticulitis ?
Diverticular abscess
Haemorrhage
Perforation
Fistula formation
Post-infective stricture
What are some causes of a perforated bowel ?
Peptic ulcers
Diverticula
Tumours
IBD
How does a perforated peptic ulcer present ?
Ill patient in pain
History of sudden onset epigastric pain +/- haematemesis
What is seen on examination in someone with a perforated peptic ulcer ?
Tachycardia
Shallow respiration
Abdominal tenderness with guarding
Absent bowel sounds
How does someone with a more distal bowel perforation present ?
Ill patient in pain
History of sudden onset abdominal pain
what is seen on examination of someone with a distal bowel perforation ?
Toxic - fever, tachycardia, low BP
Abdomen tender with guarding
Absent bowel sounds
What is the management of a perforated bowel ?
In all cases admit as an acute surgical emergency
What are some causes of pyrexia ?
Childhood infections
Consider cancer ( lymphoma and leukaemia )
Sarcoidosis
Drugs - antibiotics
How do childhood urinary tract infections present ?
Infants and toddlers - usually non-specific including vomiting, irritability, fever, abdominal pain and failure to thrive and prolonged jaundice
Older children - dysuria, urinary frequency, abdominal pain, haematuria and enuresis
What to do if you suspect a UTI in a child ?
Send urine for M, C and S in any child with urinary symptoms or any infant with a fever over 38.5 degrees with no definite cause.
what is the management of a UTI in children ?
Treat symptomatic infection without waiting for laboratory confirmation with trimethoprim for 7-10 days
What should be done as a follow up for a UTI in children ?
Start prophylactic antibiotics after the first infection and continue until further investigations are complete. Refer all children to a paediatrician after the first proven UTI.
What is acute suppurative otitis media ?
It is the prescience of infected middle ear fluid and inflammation of the mucosa lining. It is caused by viral or bacterial infection or a bacterial infection complicating a viral illness such as URTI or measles.
How does suppurative otitis media present ?
Ear pain - usually unilateral and often accompanied by fever and systemic upset. There may also be ear discharge associated with relief on pain if there is a spontaneous perforation of the ear drum.
What is seen on examination in acute suppurative otitis media ?
A red bulging drum
If perforated the external canal may be full of pus obscuring the drum.
What is the acute management of acute suppurative otitis media ?
In most people, Symptoms resolve within 3 days without treatment
Advise fluids and paracetamol +/- ibuprofen for analgesia and fever control.
Most GPs prescribe antibiotics on presentation - amoxicillin tds for 5-7 days if a perforation is present.
What are some preventative measures for acute suppurative otitis media ?
Parental smoking increases the child’s risk of otitis media
Encourage parents to stop smoking