- Diffuse abdominal pain can be anything – keep a broad differential and work from there
- Old patient and flank pain = aortic catastrophe – aortic dissections and aneurysms can knock off flow to the kidneys
- Appendicitis and diverticulitis can presents diffusely early in their clinical presentation before they localize
- Kidney stones are tricky – perform a POCUS and get the CT to evaluate the large and obstructing stones
- Think about next steps – do they need the OR? If so, get coags/type and screen/ekg to speed up time to intervention
- Can’t tolerate PO intake – DO NOT DISCHARGE
REBEL Core Cast – Basics of EM – Diffuse and Flank Abdominal Pain
Click here for Direct Download of the Podcast
Co-Host
James F. Martin, MD
Associate Clinical Professor – Rutgers RWJ
Monmouth Medical Center– RWJBarnabas
Long Branch, NJ
Post Peer Reviewed By: Anand Swaminathan, MD (Twitter: @EMSwami)
Cite this article as: Ellsworth Wright, "REBEL Core Cast – Basics of EM – Diffuse and Flank Abdominal Pain", REBEL EM blog, June 1, 2022. Available at: https://rebelem.com/rebel-core-cast-basics-of-em-diffuse-and-flank-abdominal-pain/.
