Abdominal Emergencies

Dynamic Learning Exercise

======- Abdominal Emergencies

This exercise is designed to help put a realisc face on an emergency that is oen very diﬃcult to assess and diagnose. This group of signs and symptoms helps students idenfy and relate them to their assessment and care of the paent with an abdominal emergency.

Students can use books and other references to complete this assignment. Students usually take 20 – 30 minutes to complete the worksheet. Plan 15 addional minutes for discussion.

You are called to the scene of a male with abdominal pain. His hands are across his abdomen and his knees are drawn up toward his chest. Consider each of the following signs and symptoms and evaluate what each would mean if they were found in the paent. Not all signs and symptoms are present at the same me. Consider each of them individually.

Sign or Symptom Clinical Implicaon

Oen indicates shock although the skin changes may Pale, moist skin also be a result of severe pain and the resulng sympathec nervous system response. Diffuse pain may be visceral (relang to an Diffuse pain organ). This pain is difficult to localize.

Localizable pain is pain that a paent can point Localizable Pain to and easily locate. It is called somac pain.

This may be the result of an abdominal aorc Tearing pain aneurysm.

Shoulder pain may be referred from the Shoulder pain abdomen.

Narrow pulse pressure This is an early indicator of shock.

This takes pressure oﬀ the muscles of the abdominal Knees drawn up to the chest wall and is a posion in which paents with abdominal pain oen place themselves in. Arms folded across the This may be guarding. It is a paent’s way of abdomen protecng—or guarding—the abdomen.

======- Abdominal Emergencies

Sign or Symptom Clinical Implicaon

Pale, moist skin

Diﬀuse pain

Localizable Pain

Tearing pain

Shoulder pain

Narrow pulse pressure

Knees drawn up to the chest

Arms folded across the

abdomen