Classification of acute abdomen based on etiology
|
Disease
|
Clinical manifestations
|
Diagnosis
|
Comments
|
Symptoms
|
Signs
|
Fever
|
Rigors and chills
|
Abdominal Pain
|
Jaundice
|
Hypo-
tension
|
Guarding
|
Rebound Tenderness
|
Bowel sounds
|
Lab Findings
|
Imaging
|
Abdominal causes
|
Inflammatory causes
|
Pancreato-biliary disorders
|
Acute suppurative cholangitis
|
+
|
+
|
RUQ
|
+
|
+
|
+
|
+
|
N
|
|
Ultrasound shows biliary dilatation/stents/tumor
|
Septic shock occurs with features of SIRS
|
Acute cholangitis
|
+
|
−
|
RUQ
|
+
|
−
|
−
|
−
|
N
|
Abnormal LFT
|
Ultrasound shows biliary dilatation/stents/tumor
|
Biliary drainage (ERCP) + IV antibiotics
|
Acute cholecystitis
|
+
|
−
|
RUQ
|
+
|
−
|
−
|
−
|
Hypoactive
|
|
Ultrasound shows gallstone and evidence of inflammation
|
Murphy’s sign
|
Acute pancreatitis
|
+
|
−
|
Epigastric
|
±
|
±
|
−
|
−
|
N
|
Increased amylase / lipase
|
Ultrasound shows evidence of inflammation
|
Pain radiation to back
|
Primary biliary cirrhosis
|
−
|
−
|
RUQ/Epigastric
|
+
|
−
|
−
|
−
|
N
|
Increased AMA level, abnormal LFTs
|
|
|
Primary sclerosing cholangitis
|
+
|
−
|
RUQ
|
+
|
−
|
−
|
−
|
N
|
|
|
|
Cholelithiasis
|
±
|
−
|
RUQ/Epigastric
|
±
|
−
|
+
|
+
|
N to hyperactive for dislodged stone
|
Leukocytosis
|
Ultrasound shows gallstone
|
Murphy’s sign
|
Gastric causes
|
Peptic ulcer disease
|
±
|
−
|
Diffuse
|
−
|
+ in perforated
|
+
|
+
|
N
|
|
Air under diaphragm in upright CXR
|
Upper GI endoscopy for diagnosis
|
Gastritis
|
±
|
−
|
Epigastric
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gastroesophageal reflux disease
|
−
|
−
|
Epigastric
|
−
|
−
|
−
|
−
|
|
|
|
|
Gastric outlet obstruction
|
−
|
−
|
Epigastric
|
−
|
±
|
|
|
Hyperactive
|
|
|
|
Gastrointestinal perforation
|
+
|
±
|
Diffuse
|
±
|
+
|
+
|
±
|
|
WBC> 10,000
|
Air under diaphragm in upright CXR
|
|
Intestinal causes
|
Acute appendicitis
|
+
|
+in pyogenic appendicitis
|
Starts in epigastrium, migrates to RLQ
|
−
|
+ in perforated appendicitis
|
+
|
+
|
Hypoactive
|
Leukocytosis
|
Ultrasound shows evidence of inflammation
|
Nausea & vomiting, decreased appetite
|
Acute diverticulitis
|
+
|
±
|
LLQ
|
−
|
−
|
+
|
−
|
Hypoactive
|
Leukocytosis
|
CT scan and ultrasound shows evidence of inflammation
|
|
Inflammatory bowel disease
|
±
|
−
|
Diffuse
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Irritable bowel syndrome
|
±
|
−
|
Diffuse
|
−
|
−
|
−
|
−
|
N
|
Tests done to exclude other diseases as it diagnosis of exclusion
|
Tests done to exclude other diseases as it diagnosis of exclusion
|
Symptomatic treatment
|
Whipple's disease
|
±
|
−
|
Diffuse
|
±
|
±
|
−
|
−
|
N
|
|
Endoscopy is used to confirm diagnosis.
Images used to find complications
|
Extra intestinal findings:
|
Toxic megacolon
|
+
|
−
|
Diffuse
|
−
|
+
|
±
|
−
|
Hypoactive
|
|
|
|
Tropical sprue
|
+
|
−
|
Diffuse
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Celiac disease
|
−
|
−
|
Diffuse
|
±, also dermatitis herpetiformis
|
−
|
−
|
−
|
Hyperactive (increased sounds)
|
|
|
|
Hepatic causes
|
Viral hepatitis
|
+
|
−
|
RUQ
|
+
|
−
|
|
+
|
|
|
|
|
Liver masses
|
+
|
+ in Liver abscess
|
RUQ
|
±
|
+ in sepsis
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Budd-Chiari syndrome
|
+
|
−
|
RUQ
|
±
|
−
|
-
|
-
|
N
|
Laboratory findings consistent with the diagnosis of acute and fulminant BCS include:
|
Findings on CT scan suggestive of Budd-Chiari syndrome include:
|
Ascitic fluid examination shows:
|
Hemochromatosis
|
−
|
−
|
RUQ
|
Dull / aching
|
+ in cirrhotic patients
|
may be in cardicmyopathy
|
−
|
−
|
>60% TS >240 μg/L SF Raised LFT Hyperglycemia
|
Ultrasound shows evidence of cirrhosis
|
Extra intestinal findings:
|
Cirrhosis
|
+
|
−
|
RUQ
|
+
|
−
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Peritoneal causes
|
Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis
|
+
|
−
|
Diffuse
|
+ in cirrhotic patients
|
±
|
−
|
−
|
Hypoactive
|
- Ascitic fluid PMN>250 cells/mm³
- Culture: Positive for single organism
|
Ultrasound for evaluation of liver cirrhosis
|
|
Hollow Viscous Obstruction
|
Small intestine obstruction
|
−
|
−
|
Diffuse
|
−
|
−
|
+
|
±
|
Hyperactive then absent
|
Leukocytosis
|
Abdominal X ray
|
Nausea & vomiting associated with constipation, abdominal distention
|
Volvulus
|
−
|
−
|
Diffuse
|
−
|
−
|
+
|
−
|
Hypoactive
|
Leukocytosis
|
CT scan and abdominal X ray
|
Nausea & vomiting associated with constipation, abdominal distention
|
Biliary colic
|
−
|
−
|
RUQ
|
+
|
−
|
−
|
−
|
N
|
Increased bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase
|
Ultrasound
|
Nausea & vomiting
|
Renal colic
|
−
|
−
|
Flank pain
|
−
|
−
|
−
|
−
|
N
|
Hematuria
|
CT scan and ultrasound
|
Colicky abdominal pain associated with nausea & vomiting
|
Vascular Disorders
|
Ischemic causes
|
Mesenteric ischemia
|
±
|
−
|
Periumbilical
|
−
|
±
|
−
|
−
|
Hyperactive
|
Leukocytosis and lactic acidosis
|
CT scan
|
Nausea & vomiting, normal physical examination
|
Acute ischemic colitis
|
±
|
±
|
Diffuse
|
−
|
|
+
|
+
|
Hyperactive then absent
|
Leukocytosis
|
CT scan
|
Nausea & vomiting
|
Hemorrhagic causes
|
Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm
|
−
|
−
|
Diffuse
|
−
|
+
|
−
|
−
|
N
|
Normal
|
CT scan
|
Unstable hemodynamics
|
Intra-abdominal or retroperitoneal hemorrhage
|
−
|
−
|
Diffuse
|
−
|
+
|
−
|
−
|
N
|
Anemia
|
CT scan
|
History of trauma
|
Gynaecological Causes
|
Tubal causes
|
Torsion of the cyst
|
−
|
−
|
RLQ / LLQ
|
−
|
|
±
|
±
|
N
|
Increased ESR and CRP
|
Ultrasound
|
Sudden onset sever pain with nausea and vomiting
|
Acute salpingitis
|
+
|
±
|
RLQ / LLQ
|
−
|
−
|
±
|
±
|
N
|
Leukocytosis
|
Pelvic ultrasound
|
Vaginal discharge
|
Cyst rupture
|
−
|
−
|
RLQ / LLQ
|
−
|
+
|
±
|
±
|
N
|
Increased ESR and CRP
|
Ultrasound
|
Sudden onset sever pain with nausea and vomiting
|
Pregnancy
|
Ruptured ectopic pregnancy
|
−
|
−
|
RLQ / LLQ
|
−
|
+
|
−
|
−
|
N
|
Positive pregnancy test
|
Ultrasound
|
History of missed period and vaginal bleeding
|
Extra-abdominal causes
|
Pulmonary disorders
|
Pleural empyema
|
+
|
±
|
RUQ/Epigastric
|
−
|
−
|
−
|
−
|
N
|
|
|
|
Cardiovascular disorders
|
Myocardial Infarction
|
−
|
−
|
Epigastric
|
−
|
+ in cardiogenic shock
|
−
|
−
|
N
|
|
|
|