Abdominal pain: Difference between revisions

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==Management==
==Management==
*Treat underlying cause
*Treat underlying cause
*Patients pain should be addressed as per pain ladder and pain medicine should not be withheld for the fear of masking symptoms.
*Multiple studies show [[pain medicine]] should not be withheld for fear of masking symptoms


==Disposition==
==Disposition==

Revision as of 10:51, 4 December 2016

For pediatric patients see Abdominal pain (peds)

Background

  • Patients with immunosuppression often have delayed or atypical presentations
  • Fever is not a reliable marker for surgical disease
  • Abdominal pain may be particularly misleading in elderly or diabetics

Clinical Features

  • Abdominal pain (see workup by location)
  • May be associated with nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
  • Fever may be present in pain from infectious etiology

Differential Diagnosis

Diffuse Abdominal pain

Epigastric Pain

RUQ Pain

Left upper quadrant abdominal pain

RLQ Pain

LLQ Pain

Acute Pelvic Pain

Differential diagnosis of acute pelvic pain

Gynecologic/Obstetric

Genitourinary

Gastrointestinal

Musculoskeletal

Vascular

Extra-abdominal Sources of Abdominal pain

Evaluation

Management

  • Treat underlying cause
  • Multiple studies show pain medicine should not be withheld for fear of masking symptoms

Disposition

  • Depends on etiology

See Also

References

  1. Norris DL, Young JD. UTI. EM Clin N Am. 2008; 26:413-30.