GI - Acute Abdomen

Question 1

What is the definition of an acute abdomen?

Answer 1

A sudden, severe abdominal pain of unclear etiology that has been present for less than 24 hours

Question 2

Using the mnemonic “I‘m learning the ABCs” to name some of the causes of an acute abdomen (a sudden, severe abdominal pain of unclear etiology that has been present for less than 24 hours).

Answer 2

Ischemia

Mesenteric lymphadenitis

Appendicitis

Acute pancreatitis

Bowel obstruction or perforation

Chronic pancreatitis

Question 3

What does abdominal rigidity and/or decreased movement indicate?

Answer 3

Peritonitis

Question 4

What does visible abdominal peristalsis indicate?

Answer 4

Intestinal obstruction

Question 5

You hear a bruit in a patient’s abdomen. What is indicated?

Answer 5

Vascular disease

Question 6

You hear no bowel sounds in a patient’s abdomen.

What my be indicated?

Answer 6

Paralytic ileus, etc.

Question 7

You hear increased borborygmi in a patient’s abdomen.

What my be indicated?

Answer 7

Mechanical obstruction

Question 8

What do abdominal tenderness, guarding, and/or rebound tenderness indicate?

Answer 8

Parietal peritonitis

Question 9

What does an abdominal pulsatile mass indicate?

Answer 9

Aortic aneurysm

Question 10

What two ‘muscle’ signs might indicate acute appendicitis?

Answer 10

Psoas;

obturator

Question 11

Describe the obturator and psoas signs of acute appendicitis.

Answer 11

Question 12

Name the four main mechanisms of ischemic bowel disease.

Answer 12

Acute emboli;

chronic atherosclerosis;

hypotension;

venous thrombosis