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An Approach to Abdominal Pain in the ED

An Approach to Abdominal Pain in the ED. Nisarg Shah MD, FACEP. Introduction. Complaints related to abdominal pain comprise between 5-7% of all visits to the ED. Of those, the most common discharge diagnosis is Abdominal Pain NOS.

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An Approach to Abdominal Pain in the ED

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  1. An Approach to Abdominal Pain in the ED Nisarg Shah MD, FACEP

  2. Introduction • Complaints related to abdominal pain comprise between 5-7% of all visits to the ED. • Of those, the most common discharge diagnosis is Abdominal Pain NOS. • Although most abdominal pain is non-emergent and self-limited in nature, attention must be paid to not miss medical and/or surgical emergencies.

  3. Important Factors • Patients rarely present with the classical signs/symptoms of acute abdominal pain. • Three important factors to consider are age, gender, and co-morbidities.

  4. Greater than 50 Biliary disease NOS Appendicitis Bowel obstruction Pancreatitis Diverticular disease Cancer Less than 50 NOS Appendicitis Biliary tract disease Gynecologic Pancreatitis Bowel obstruction Age differences

  5. Males Perforated ulcer Gastritis Appendicitis Females Nonspecific Diverticulitis Acute cholecystitis Gynecologic Gender differences

  6. Comorbidities • Immunocompromised i.e. age, steroids, HIV, sickle cell disease, malignancy • CAD, Atrial fibrillation, Peripheral vascular disease • Diabetes • Dementia • Multiple surgeries

  7. Types of Pain • Visceral Pain: caused by stretching of fibers innervating the walls of hollow organs or capsules of solid organs, described as crampy or dull pain • Parietal Pain: caused by irritation of fibers that innervate the parietal peritoneum, pain is more sharp and localized • Referred Pain: pain at a location distant to the diseased organ based on embryonological origin

  8. History • Most diagnoses can be made by history alone. • Careful attention must be paid to: • Time/mode of onset • Duration • Location • Character/progression • Medical history • Contributing symptoms

  9. Caveat Although we can agree that history is usually the most important part of the encounter, urgent determination of potential surgical emergencies is essential.

  10. History – time/mode of onset • Woken up from sleep • Abrupt/severe versus gradual • Less severe but increasing • Gradual onset with slow progression • Intermittent pain • Associated with certain activities – eating or exercise

  11. History-Duration • Acute onset of pain vs. chronic pain • Acute, severe, and worsening pain suggests a surgical disorder • Very long duration often, but not always, suggests a less acute cause

  12. Four basic quadrants Right upper quadrant Right lower quadrant Left upper quadrant Left lower quadrant Three central areas Epigastric Periumbilical Suprapubic History-Location

  13. History-Character/Progression • Severity/magnitude of stimulus • Intermittent crampy • Severe and colicky • Sudden increase • Sudden change in sensation or location

  14. Medical History • Previous surgery • Sexual activity • Menstrual history • Travel • Exposure risk/occupation • Psychiatric • Medications • Comorbidities

  15. History-Contributing Symptoms • Anorexia • Vomiting (bilious? blood?)/Nausea • Diarrhea • Bleeding • Constipation • Obstipation • Dysuria • SOB • Chest pain

  16. Physical Examination • The exam serves several important purposes • To confirm suspicions from the history • To localize the area of disease • To avoid missing extra-abdominal causes of pain

  17. Physical Examination • General appearance including facial expression, diaphoresis, pallor, and degree of agitation to distinguish the intensity of the pain • Vital signs

  18. Physical Examination • Inspection: look for distention, ecchymosis, scars, hernias • Auscultation: listen for bowel sounds, pitch, bruits • Palpation: feel for guarding, masses, tenderness, rebound • Percussion: liver size, tympany

  19. Differential Diagnosis • The next important step in the evaluation of abdominal pain is to formulate a differential diagnosis • It is helpful to construct a list based upon location of abdominal pain

  20. Laboratory Evaluation • Dependent upon initial history and physical examination • Most frequently ordered study is the CBC • Additional studies may include electrolytes, amylase, lipase, LFTs, BUN, creatinine, urinalysis, Beta Hcg, lactic acid • EKG

  21. Imaging Studies • Plain films: • CXR or Upright pCXR • Abdominal series

  22. Imaging studies cont’d • CXR help determine the following: • Abdominal pain of pulmonary origin - pneumonia with diaphragmatic irritation • Free air under diaphragm - perforated viscous • Air filled viscera in chest – diaphragmatic or hiatal hernia • Mediastinal air - Boerhave’s tear

  23. Imaging studies cont’d • Abdominal films can help with: • Fluid filled loops/air fluid levels – obstruction • Renal calculi • Gallstones or air in the biliary tree • Massive dilation of colon • Lots of stool

  24. This person most likely has Large bowel obstr. Small bowel obstr. Generalized ileus Localized ileus Normal bowel gas pattern Imaging

  25. This person most likely has Large bowel obstr. Small bowel obstr. Generalized ileus Localized ileus Normal bowel gas pattern Imaging

  26. This person most likely has Large bowel obstr. Small bowel obstr. Generalized ileus Localized ileus Normal bowel gas pattern Imaging

  27. This person most likely has Large bowel obstr. Small bowel obstr. Generalized ileus Localized ileus Normal bowel gas pattern Imaging

  28. This person most likely has Large bowel obstr. Small bowel obstr. Generalized ileus Localized ileus Free intraperitoneal air Imaging

  29. Pneumobilia after passage of a gallstone. Take a good look at the liver where the biliary tract is outlined by air. Imaging

  30. Imaging

  31. Imaging

  32. Imaging studies cont’d • Likelihood ratio of finding abnormality on xray is increased by • Increased/high pitched bowel signs • Distention • History of abdominal surgery • Blood in urine/history of kidney stones • Severe abdominal pain and tenderness • Abdominal pain for less than one day

  33. Imaging studies cont’d • Sonography is the study of choice for: • Biliary/hepatobiliary disease • Pregnant women • Evaluation of gynecologic structures – ovarian as well as testicular • Rapid evaluation of hemoperitonium • AAAs

  34. Imaging studies cont’d • CT scanning is now the test of choice for: • Intraabdominal infections such as diverticulitis, appendicitis, and post operative infections • Vasculature of the abdomen • Kidney stones • Abdominal hernias • Defining obstructions, neoplasms

  35. Special Considerations • Patients bearing special consideration • Women of childbearing age • Elderly patients • Children • Patients on immunosuppressives

  36. Women of childbearing age • Childbearing women – atypical presentations – pregnant women with appendicitis may present with RUQ pain when uterus displaced other organs in 2nd/3rd trimesters

  37. Elderly patients • A low threshold should be used for admitting or admitting elderly patients. • Their presentation is rarely typical. • Their history is rarely clear. • Their comorbidities are many.

  38. Children • Young children often have difficulty localizing their pain. • History is limited. • Obtaining imaging is sometimes difficult but imaging has cut down on improper diagnoses.

  39. Immunosuppressives • Anyone on prednisone or other immunosuppressive medications be more careful with as they often present atypically. • Corticosteroids may mask pain.

  40. Aside About Radiation • We now image a lot in abdominal pain or chest pain. Try to keep in mind the large amount of radiation that we are exposing people to when we are making our diagnostic plan.

  41. Time course of ailment • Even if you image someone and the results are normal remember to tell people to still watch for warnings.

  42. Abdominal Catastrophes • Things not to miss • MI • AAA • Mesenteric ischemia • Ectopic pregnancy • Ruptured viscous

  43. MI • Consider • in patients with risk factors • In patients with epigastric pain • In patients who are vomiting, particularly inferior wall MIs • Diaphoresis is often common • diabetics

  44. AAA • Used to be misdiagnosed commonly as nephrolithiasis. • Consider in any patient with CAD, hypertension, testicular pain, flank pain. • Check for pulsatile mass, abdominal bruits.

  45. Mesenteric Ischemia • Pain out of proportion to exam is the classical description. • High morbidity/mortality • Consider in older patients with comorbidities such as A. Fib., severe CAD, CHF • Angiography is test of choice but can be hard to set up in a timely manner so early consultation is essential.

  46. Ectopic pregnancy • Perform a pregnancy test in any woman of child bearing age. • If positive get a BQuant. • Depending on the number and your clinical suspicion obtain a pelvic sonogram.

  47. Extraabdominal causes • Cardiopulmonary – MI, angina, ptx, pna • Abdominal wall – cellulitis, shingles • Hernias • Metabolic – DKA, AKA or adrenal crisis, sickle cell crisis

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