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A Preliminary Study on Warm Acupuncture and Moxibustion for Treating Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with Abdominal Distension
Published on: September 1, 2023
Pain in abdomen and shoulder
David Francyk1, Stephanie Augustine, Robert Garcia
1St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
The Journal of Family Practice
|October 31, 2009
Summary
A young male smoker presented with abdominal pain and vomiting. Imaging revealed a collapsed right lung, a rare condition in non-trauma patients.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonology
- Emergency Medicine
- Radiology
Background:
- A 26-year-old male smoker presented to the emergency department with acute onset of vomiting and abdominal and right shoulder pain.
- Initial vital signs were largely normal, with a heart rate of 109 bpm and oxygen saturation of 96% on room air.
Observation:
- Physical examination revealed diminished breath sounds over the left lung fields and absent breath sounds over the right lung.
- The patient denied any dyspnea despite significant abnormalities in lung auscultation.
- Initial laboratory workup was unremarkable.
Findings:
- Chest X-ray and computed tomography (CT) scan were ordered to investigate the cause of decreased breath sounds.
- Imaging results are pending but are expected to elucidate the cause of the unilateral absent breath sounds.
Implications:
- Pneumothorax, particularly spontaneous pneumothorax, should be considered in patients presenting with unexplained abdominal or shoulder pain, even without respiratory symptoms.
- Early diagnostic imaging is crucial for identifying potentially life-threatening conditions like pneumothorax.
- This case highlights the importance of a thorough physical examination and prompt imaging in the emergency setting.
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