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The acute abdomen
1Veterinary Emergency Clinic, Modesto, California.
The Veterinary Clinics of North America. Small Animal Practice
|November 1, 1994
Summary
Diagnosing acute abdomen requires careful patient evaluation, including physical exams and diagnostics. When uncertain, surgical exploration may be needed, with ultrasound showing promise.
Area of Science:
- Emergency Medicine
- Diagnostic Imaging
- Surgical Decision Making
Background:
- Acute abdomen presents significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges for emergency clinicians.
- Deciding between medical or surgical treatment is complex, requiring integration of diverse patient data.
- Thorough and repeated physical examination (PE) is crucial in managing these patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the challenges in diagnosing and treating acute abdomen.
- To emphasize the importance of diagnostic tools and clinical judgment.
- To discuss the role of emerging technologies in acute abdomen management.
Main Methods:
- Review of diagnostic and therapeutic considerations for acute abdomen.
- Emphasis on integrating patient information, laboratory findings, and radiological studies.
- Discussion of diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL) and physical examination (PE).
Main Results:
- No single diagnostic method is always definitive for acute abdomen.
- Abdominal ultrasonography is an increasingly valuable tool.
- Laparoscopy, CT, and CAD can be useful in specific acute abdomen cases.
Conclusions:
- Careful clinical assessment and diagnostic integration are paramount.
- Surgical exploration is advised when diagnostics are inconclusive and symptoms persist.
- Emerging imaging modalities like ultrasound enhance diagnostic capabilities for acute abdomen.