Abdominal Pain

Scope of the problem Anatomic Essentials

Visceral Pain Parietal Pain Referred Pain

History
Where is your pain? Has it always been there? Does the pain radiate anywhere? How did the pain begin (sudden vs. gradual onset)? How long have you had the pain? What were you doing when the pain began? What does the pain feel like? On a scale of 010, how severe is the pain? Does anything make the pain better or worse? Have you had the pain before?

History (continued)
Associated symptoms Gastrointestinal Genitourinary Gynecologic Cardiopulmonary Past medical

Physical Examination Directed

General appearance Vital Signs Abdomen
Inspection Auscultation Percussion Palpation

Physical Examination Directed

Pelvic Genital Back Rectal Head-to-toe

Differential Diagnosis
Appendicitis Biliary colic, cholecystitis, cholangitis Bowel obstruction Diverticulitis Ectopic pregnancy Gastroenteritis Intussuception Mesenteric Ischemia Ovarian torsion Pancreatitis Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) Perforated peptic ulcer Ruptured or leaking abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) Testicular torsion Ureteral colic Volvulus

Diagnostic Testing
Laboratory Studies
CBC Urinalysis Pregnancy Amylase/Lipase Other

Electrocardiogram

Diagnostic Testing - continued

Radiologic Studies
Plain Films Ultrasound Computed Tomography

General Treatment Principles

Volume repletion Pain relief Antibiotics Other

Special Patients
Elderly Pediatric Immune compromised

Disposition
Surgical consultation Serial evaluation Discharge

Pearls, Pitfalls and Myths

Do not restrict the diagnosis solely by the location of the pain. Consider appendicitis in all patients with abdominal pain and an appendix, especially in patients with the presumed diagnosis of gastroenteritis, PID or UTI. Do not use the presence or absence of fever to distinguish between surgical and medical causes of abdominal pain. The WBC count is of little clinical value in the patient with possible appendicitis. Any woman with childbearing potential and abdominal pain has an ectopic pregnancy until her pregnancy test comes back negative. Pain medications reduce pain and suffering without compromising diagnostic accuracy.

An elderly patient with abdominal pain has a high likelihood of surgical disease. Obtain an ECG in elderly patients and those with cardiac risk factors presenting with abdominal pain. A patient with appendicitis by history and physical examination does not need a CT scan to confirm the diagnosis; they need an operation. The use of abdominal ultrasound or CT may help evaluate patients over the age of 50 with unexplained abdominal or flank pain for the presence of AAA.