Abdominal Pain : Medical Triage : Online Medical Help

Medical Triage : Online Medical Help

Abdominal Pain

Subjective

Pain may arise from thoracic structures and the spine

Pain arising from abdominal structures may be referred eg to the shoulder.

With epigastric pain ask for hematemesis and melena.

Where pain is in flanks, and especially if it radiates into groin, ask for frequency, hematuria and dysuria.

 In females, always ask for the last menstrual period.

Common associated symptoms include fever and vomitting.

Abdominal Pain

Objective

Look for:

Features of shock

Temperature

Respiratory distress (indicates severe disease)

Severe pain

Pallor, jaundiced, toxic appearance

Abdominal distension or bruises on the abdomen

Abdominal Pain

Assessment

Critical

Severe pain with abnormal VS

GIT bleed

Toxic looking

Features of shock

Pale or jaundice

PV bleeding with abnormal VS

Abdominal Pain

Semi-critical

Severe pain with normal VS

dehydration but not hypotension patient has normal vital signs        

Acute retention of urine      

Spotting PV in pregnant women but normal vital signs

Pain in testis

Non-critical

Not in distress          

Abdominal Pain

Plan

In patients over 40 and not PI, do ECG for epigastric pain.

In patients with flank, iliac fossa or suprapubic pain and not PI, do urine dipstix