Acute abdominal pain

Acute abdominal pain

Amelia Mangunereplied toShawna WilliamsMar 24, 2022, 6:26 PMUnreadReplies to Shawna Williams

Acute abdominal pain (specifically severe) demands a prompt assessment because a missed or delayed diagnosis may lead to significant morbidity and mortality (Greenberger, 2017). Greenberger (2017) also explains the initial step in determining whether the patient has a life-threatening basis of acute abdominal pain. Then, once stabilized, it must be determined whether an emergent surgery is warranted. The decision to obtain an emergency surgical consultation depends on the history and physical examination (with ancillary radiographic studies (such as CT, US) of secondary importance), and when signs and symptoms of an acute abdomen are present, a surgical consult should be requested.

Based on Kendall & Moreira (2020), the differential diagnosis is broad in many cases, varying from benign to life-threatening conditions. Causes include medical, surgical, intraabdominal, and extra-abdominal ailments. Associated symptoms frequently lack specificity, and atypical presentations of common diseases are frequent, further complicating issues. Kendall & Moreira (2020) also explain that older adults, the immunocompromised, and women of childbearing age pose particular diagnostic challenges. Older and diabetic patients often have imprecise, nonspecific complaints and atypical presentations of potentially life-threatening conditions leading to time-consuming workups. The immunocompromised patient may suffer from many illnesses, including uncommon and treatment-related disorders. Pregnancy leads to physiologic and anatomic shifts affecting the presentation of common conditions.