Chapter 34: Acute Abdomen Flashcards
what is an acute abdomen?
Undiagnosed sudden pain that lasts less than seven days and forces patient to seek medical attention
NOTE: NOT surgical abdomen because most acute abdomen do not need surgery
what are peritoneal signs?
Signs of peritoneal irritation:
- extreme tenderness
- percussion tenderness
- rebound tenderness
- voluntary guarding
- Involuntary guarding/rigidity (late)
rebound tenderness
pain upon releasing the palpating hand pushing on the abdomen
motion pain
abdominal pain upon moving, pelvic rocking, moving of stretcher or heel strike
voluntary guarding
abdominal muscle contraction with palpation of abdomen
involuntary guarding
rigid abdomen as the muscles gaurd involuntarily
colic
intermittent severe pain ususally because of the intermittent contraction of a hollow viscus against an obstruction
what condisions can mask abdominal pain
- Steroids
- Diabetes
- Paraplegia
MC cause of acute abdominal surgery in US
Acute appendecitis
what should go first, auscultation or palpation
auscultation
best way for patient to localize the pain
point
classic position of pateint with peritonitis
motionless with knee flexed
classic position of patient with kidney stone
restless, writhing in pain
lab tests to evaluate a patient with acute abdomen
- CBC with differential
- Chem-10
- AMylase
- Type and screen
- Urinalysiss
- LFTs
what is a left shift on CBC differential
sign of inflammatory response ie. immature neutrophils (bands)
NOTE: Many call >80% of WBCs as neutrophils a “left shift”
women of childbearing age with an acute abdomen should recieve
BHCG to rule out ectopic/pregnancy