GI Misc. 9 - Abdominal Pain Flashcards
What is shifting pain?
Pain that moves from one area to another and is no longer sore in the original place
What is spreading pain?
Pain that radiates to a large area
How to tell the difference between gastric and duodenal ulcers?
Gastric ulcers are worse on eating where as duodenal ulcers are better on eating
What gives a throbbing pain?
Inflammation
What gives a colic pain?
Obstruction
What are the 5 main categories that you should consider when a patient presents with abdominal pain?
Inflammatory painUnderlying malignancyDrug relatedInfectious causeIatrogenic
What is the most likely cause of the main if the patient doesn’t want to be moved or touched?
inflammation
What is the most likely cause of the pain if the patient is moving around?
Colic
What can you ask the patient to do to try and illicit if they have peritonitis?
“Puff up your tummy”“Suck your tummy in”“Give me a gentle cough”“Give me a big cough”They will also not like percussion
Murphy’s sign?
a sign of gallbladder disease consisting of pain on taking a deep breath when the examiner’s fingers are on the approximate location of the gallbladder.
Rebound tenderness?
Press hard and the pain is not that bad but when you suddenly release it cause an increase in pain - no longer do this to assess for peritonitis (coughing and percussion is better)
As well as sound what else can you percuss for?
Tenderness (peritonism)Patients may also guard - this is different to tenderness - you would not do this if you have peritonitis
What signs/symptoms should you look for it abdo. pain patients which suggest that they are very sick?
Extreme pain and tendernessHypotensionHigh pulse rate
What is McBurney’s point?
McBurney’s point is the name given to the point over the right side of the abdomen that is one-third of the distance from the anterior superior iliac spine to the umbilicus (navel). This point roughly corresponds to the most common location of the base of the appendix where it is attached to the cecum.
What type of pain does a perforated appendix cause?
Generalised pain and guarding with peritonism