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The first step in diagnosis is to determine the etiology of abdominal distension. After making a differential diagnosis of abdominal distension, it is important to take a careful medical history. [9] Here are the most common causes of abdominal distension classified as an underlying cause and as a secondary disease. As an underlying disease cause:
Traditionally, the use of opiates or other pain medications in patients with an acute abdomen has been discouraged before the clinical examination because of the concern that pain medications may mask the signs and symptoms of the condition and therefore may lead to a delay in diagnosis. However, the scientific literature has shown that early ...
Depending on the level of obstruction, bowel obstruction can present with abdominal pain, abdominal distension, and constipation.Bowel obstruction may be complicated by dehydration and electrolyte abnormalities due to vomiting; respiratory compromise from pressure on the diaphragm by a distended abdomen, or aspiration of vomitus; bowel ischemia or perforation from prolonged distension or ...
About 10% of cases have a more serious cause including gallbladder (gallstones or biliary dyskinesia) or pancreas problems (4%), diverticulitis (3%), appendicitis (2%) and cancer (1%). [2] More common in those who are older, ischemic colitis , [ 5 ] mesenteric ischemia , and abdominal aortic aneurysms are other serious causes.
The differential diagnosis includes the much more common constricting or obstructing carcinoma. In approximately 80 percent of colonic obstructions, invasive carcinoma is found to be the cause of the obstruction. This is usually easily diagnosed with endoscopic biopsies. Diverticulitis is a common condition with different presentations.
Clinical features mimic those seen with mechanical intestinal obstructions and can include abdominal pain, nausea, abdominal distension, vomiting, dysphagia and constipation [2] [3] depending upon the part of the gastrointestinal tract involved. It is a difficult condition to diagnose, requiring exclusion of any other mechanical cause of ...
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Differential diagnosis appendicitis , gastrointestinal hemorrhage The psoas sign , also known as Cope's sign (or Cope's psoas test [ 1 ] ) or Obraztsova's sign, [ 2 ] is a medical sign that indicates irritation to the iliopsoas group of hip flexors in the abdomen , and consequently indicates that the inflamed appendix is retrocaecal in ...