EM Block II Flashcards
Describe visceral pain
Obstruction, ischemia, or inflammation can cause stretching of unmyelinated fibers that innervate the walls or capsules of organs, resulting in visceral pain
Visceral pain is often described as “crampy, dull, or achy,” and it can be either steady or intermittent (colicky)
(Think obstruction).
Describe parietal pain
Parietal (somatic) abdominal pain is caused by irritation of myelinated fibers that innervate the parietal peritoneum, usually the portion covering the anterior abdominal wall.
This may be caused by continued inflammation from an obstructed organ or chemical irritants
Parietal afferent signals: specific area of peritoneum! Parietal pain can be localized to the dermatome superficial to the site of the painful stimulus.
If you think you need blood later on then what should you order
Type and Screen
If you need blood now, what should you order
Type and Cross
Who is it most common to have appendicitis
Acute appendicitis is most common in patients age 10 to 19 years, remains the most frequent cause of atraumatic abdominal pain in children >1 year old, and is the most common non-obstetric surgical emergency in pregnancy, complicating up to 1 in 1500 pregnancies.
What is the traditional cause of appendicitis
Luminal obstruction of the vermiform appendix, typically by a fecalith,(poop stone) is considered the traditional cause of appendicitis.
What is the location of McBurney’s point
located one third of the distance from the anterior superior iliac spine to the umbilicus.
What is the initial pain sensation of appendicitis
unenervated visceral pain fibers
What is rovsings sign
Rebound referred pain from contra lateral compression of the abdomen that is a sign of appendicitis
What kind of pyuria is present is appendicitis
Sterile pyuria
In appendicitis in pregnant or child pts
What is the imaging modality of choice
US ! First
What is the imaging for Appendicitis in the majority of pts
Non con ct
What is the tx for appendicitis
Immediate surg consult
NPO immediately
Maintenance fluids and pain meds
ABX as appropriate
Ampicillin/Sulbactam
Pipercillin/ Tazobactam
Cefetoxin
What is the flow of ducts through the pancreas
Bile flows out of the liver through the left and right hepatic ducts, which come together to form the common hepatic duct. This duct then joins with a duct connected to the gallbladder, called the cystic duct, to form the common bile duct. The common bile duct enters the small intestine at the sphincter of Oddi (a ring-shaped muscle), located a few inches below the stomach.
How does pancreatitis general resolve
Generally resolves with only supportive care
IV Fluids, pain control, bowel rest etc etc..
What are the common pancreatitis presentation in men vs women
Alcohol is more common in men
Gall stones more common in women
What surgery has a 5% incidence rate for pancreatitis
ERCP ( gall stone removal)
What enzyme is responsible for auto digestion of the pancreas
Trypsin
What is the criteria to Dz pancreatitis
(1) clinical presentation consistent with acute pancreatitis
(2) serum lipase or amylase elevated above the upper limit of normal (X3)
(3) imaging findings characteristic of acute pancreatitis
(IV contrast CT, MRI, or transabdominal US)
How elevated with the amylase or lipase be in pancreatitis
3x ULN
ALT elevated above 150 means..
An alanine aminotransferase of >150 U/L within the first 48 hours of symptoms predicts gallstone pancreatitis
When does pancreatitis show up on CT
72 hours of onset
What is the SIRS criteria for severe acute pancreatitis
Patient characteristics:
>55 years, obesity, AMS, comorbidities
Labs:
BUN >20 or rising; hematocrit >44% or rising; ↑creatinine- DEHYDRATION!
What is the treatment appraoch to biliary pancreatitis
Early surgical consult! ERCP