Download presentation
Presentation is loading. Please wait.
Published byPhebe Evans Modified over 9 years ago
1
The Acute Abdomen
2
Major causes of the 'acute abdomen' Acute cholecystitis Acute cholecystitis Acute cholecystitis Acute appendicitis or Meckel's diverticulitis Acute appendicitisMeckel's diverticulitis Acute appendicitisMeckel's diverticulitis Acute pancreatitis Acute pancreatitis Acute pancreatitis Peptic ulcer disease Peptic ulcer disease Peptic ulcer disease Pelvic inflammatory disease Pelvic inflammatory disease Pelvic inflammatory disease Intestinal obstruction, including paralytic ileus (adynamic obstruction) Intestinal obstruction Intestinal obstruction Acute intestinal ischaemia/infarction or vasculitis Acute intestinal ischaemia/infarctionvasculitis Acute intestinal ischaemia/infarctionvasculitis Gastrointestinal haemorrhage Gastrointestinal haemorrhage Gastrointestinal haemorrhage Non-surgical disease, e.g. myocardial infarction, pericarditis, pneumonia, sickle cell crisis, hepatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, opiate withdrawal, typhoid, acute intermittent porphyria, HIV-associated lymphadenopathy or enteritis myocardial infarctionpericarditis pneumoniahepatitistyphoidacute intermittent porphyriaHIVmyocardial infarctionpericarditis pneumoniahepatitistyphoidacute intermittent porphyriaHIV
3
Gallstones and Cholecystitis Gallstones may cause no symptoms and are occasionally discovered The second commonest presentation is acute cholecystitis, caused by distension of the gallbladder with subsequent necrosis and ischaemia of the mucosal wall.
4
Biliary colic The pain starts suddenly in the epigastrium, Vomiting often accompanies the pain,
5
Investigations Urinalysis, chest X-ray and ECG may help exclude other diseases. Ultrasound is the best way to demonstrate stones. Ultrasonography can also allow measurement of the diameter of the common bile duct
6
Investigations Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is currently the only reliable and widely available investigation for duct stones. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography CT may be useful when filling the bile duct is unsuccessful Oral cholecystograms (contrast given orally is concentrated in a healthy GB
7
Cholecystitis The main difference from biliary colic is the inflammatory component If the stone moves to the common bile duct (CBD) jaundice may occur Ultrasonography confirms dilatation of the common bile duct (>7mm diameter )
8
Non-surgical Biliary colic and acute cholecystitis - these conditions will usually respond to an opioid such as morphine Pain continuing for over 24 hours or accompanied by fever usually necessitates hospital admission. Require antibiotics
9
Surgical Laparoscopic cholecystectomy Laparoscopic cholecystectomy Laparoscopic cholecystectomy Early surgery (within seven days of the onset of symptoms) appears to be safe and shortens hospital stay, but further studies are needed. Postoperative complications are rare but do occur. The most significant is injury to the bile duct which occurs at a rate of 0.2% in both open and laparoscopic surgery.
10
Acute Appendicitis Sudden inflammation of the appendix usually caused by obstruction of the lumen resulting in invasion of the appendix wall by the gut flora. Appendicitis is more common in men. Appendicectomy is performed more often in women Appendicectomy
11
Classic symptoms Pain: Early peri-umbilical pain moves after hours or sometimes days to the right iliac fossa Vomiting, anorexia Temperature and pulse are normal at first Rectal examination: Rectal examination Rectal examination TR-Appendicectomy
12
Intestinal obstruction and ileus Obstruction to free passage of contents can occur at any level of the gut but problems such as oesophageal stricture, oesophageal carcinoma, carcinoma of stomach and pyloric stenosis will not be considered here but only obstruction beyond the duodenum. Ileus means intestinal blockage. The term paralytic ileus is used when the problem is inactivity of the bowel. Ileus is often used as a synonym. This may also be called intestinal pseudo-obstruction.
13
Risk factors: Small intestinal obstruction is caused by adhesions in 60%, strangulated hernia in 20%, malignancy in 5% and volvulus in 5%. adhesionsvolvulus adhesionsvolvulus Large intestinal obstruction is most often the result of colo-rectal malignancies Sigmoid and caecal volvulus describes rotation of the gut on its mesenteric axis
14
Paralytic ileus Paralytic ileus describes the condition in which the bowel ceases to function and there is no peristalsis. chest infection acute myocardial infarction Stroke, trauma acute renal failure severe hypothyroidism electrolyte disturbance diabetic ketoacidosis
15
Clinical Central abdominal pain Vomiting tends to be early in high level obstruction Abdominal distension Check hernial orifices Plain abdominal x-ray is a very important investigation
16
Management: Resuscitation is very important Nasogastric tube will reduce vomiting asogastric tubeasogastric tube Early surgery is required if there is local or generalised peritonitis, peritonitis The management of patients with obstruction due to malignancy who are unfit for surgery
17
Prognosis: The prognosis of advanced carcinoma of the colon remains poor. 25% have distant metastases 50% of sigmoid volvulus will recur in the next 2 years 60% of stomas are never reversed Older patients are less able to withstand the rigours of serious illness and major surgery
18
Acute Pancreatitis Pathogenesis -Gallbladder disease and excess alcohol consumption account for most cases and typically cause periductal necrosis. -Gallbladder disease and excess alcohol consumption account for most cases and typically cause periductal necrosis. Biliary diseaseBiliary disease and alcohol abuse together account for 70%-80% of cases, Biliary disease
19
Signs Take temperature to exclude hypothermia Probable tachycardia Epigastric or generalised abdominal tenderness, often with rigidity. In severe cases: gross hypotension, pyrexia, tachypnoea Hypoxaemia is characteristic of acute pancreatitis
20
Investigations Serum amylase >4 x normal: Raised bilirubin and/or serum aminotransferase suggest gall stones. Hypocalcaemia is relatively common. CT with contrast enhancement may be diagnostic where clinical and biochemical results are equivocal on admission
21
Management Pain relief with pethidine or buprenorphine ± IV benzodiazepines. Morphine relatively contraindicated because of possible spastic effect on sphincter of Oddi. Nasogastric tube only for severe vomiting. Antibiotics for specific infections.
22
Complications Pancreatic necrosis Infected necrosis Pancreatic abscess Acute pseudocyst Pancreatic ascites Systemic complications Respiratory, Cardiovascular, Disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC), Hypocalcaemia
Similar presentations
© 2025 SlidePlayer.com. Inc.
All rights reserved.