Help
Options
Didn't know it?
click below
click below
Knew it?
click below
click below
Don't Know
Remaining cards (0)
Know
retry
shuffle
restart
0:00
Embed Code - If you would like this activity on your web page, copy the script below and paste it into your web page.
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Ch. 47
Common causes of abdominal pain
| cause | signs and symptoms | emergency management |
|---|---|---|
| bowel obstruction | nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, abdominal distention, inability to pass gas or stool | keep pt on NPO status and assist with care as directed, the pt will require hospitalization for further care and possible surgery |
| cholecystitis | colicky epigastric pain that radiates into the RUQ, right shoulder and back; nausea and vomiting, fever, jaundice, tachycardia, light stool and dark urine, pruritus | not an emergency although pain maybe severe, test rule out cardiac causes, pt maybe hospitalized for cholecystectomy or lithotripsy |
| crohn disease | chronic diarrhea, fever, weight loss, anorexia, fatigue, abdominal pain, cramping that may be localized to the RLQ | not usually an emergency but surgery maybe necessary in cases of perforation or to remove the involved portion of the colon; administer fluids, anticholinergics, and opioids to control pain and reduce bowel motility; antimicrobials for infection |
| diverticulitis | fever, nausea, blood streaked stool, LLQ pain | not usually an emergency but surgery may be necessary in cases of bowel perforation; administer antibiotics to treat infection and analgesics for pain |
| gastroenteritis | varies with cause, watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, anorexia, nausea and vomiting, headache, fever, weakness | rarely an emergency, administer fluids and electrolyte replacement, antiemetics, and antibiotics per order |
| peptic ulcer disease | indigestion, heartburn, epigastric pain, uncomfortable fullness, nausea and vomiting, peak of symptom 2 hours after eating | not usually an emergency, tests may rule out cardiac causes, treatment includes GI evaluation, anti-ulcer medications, and possibly antibiotics |
| ulcerative colitis | episodic flare-ups with as many as 10-20 episodes of bloody muciod diarrhea per day, pain, cramps, urgency to defecate, weight loss, fever, malaise | not usually an emergency but surgery may be necessary in some cases of severe hemorrhage or perforation, give anticholinergic and antidiarrheal medications per order to reduce bowel motility, corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and analgesics for pain |
| appendicitis | classic symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and severe periumbilical pain that eventually localizes to the RLQ, RLQ rebound tenderness to palpation possible, fever, diarrhea or xonstipation | keep pt on NPO status, help arrange for appendectomy if directed, administer antibiotics to prevent or resolve infection if ordered |
Created by:
rewebb
Popular Clinical Skills sets