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Is there associated dyspnea? If there is associated dyspnea, one should look for congestive heart failure, pulmonary emphysema, and other cardiopulmonary conditions.
Is there hepatomegaly? If there is associated hepatomegaly, ... DIAGNOSTIC WORKUP
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Many disease processes, including malignancies, infections, and bowel obstruction, present with abdominal masses. The most serious and dramatic etiology is an abdominal aortic aneurysm, which is responsible for 15,000 deaths per year. More frequently, abdominal masses... Differential Diagnosis ... Workup and Diagnosis ... Treatment
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Ascites, the accumulation of serous fluid within the peritoneal cavity, may be caused by a combination of factors, including hypoalbuminemia, portal hypertension, increased aldosterone and antidiuretic hormone secretion, overproduction of lymph, and enhanced... Differential Diagnosis ... Workup and Diagnosis ... Treatment
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Abdominal masses are common presenting signs of malignant solid tumors in children and should be presumed to be such. They require urgent evaluation to rule out compression of internal organs, hemorrhage, and/or malignancy. In newborns, an abdominal mass is most likely renal... Differential Diagnosis ... Workup and Diagnosis ... Treatment
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... As the physician examines the abdomen, how can he or she recall all of the causes of a mass or swelling? The physician should consider the possibilities for the mass’s composition. It may be air, in which case the physician would think of
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... Abdominal distention refers to increased abdominal girth — the result of increased intra-abdominal pressure forcing the abdominal wall outward. Distention may be mild or severe, depending on the amount of pressure. It may be localized or diffuse and may occur... Emergency interventions ... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Special considerations
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... Commonly detected on routine physical examination, an abdominal mass is a localized swelling in one abdominal quadrant. Typically, this sign develops insidiously and may represent an enlarged organ, a neoplasm, an abscess, a vascular defect, or a fecal mass.
... Emergency interventions ... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Special considerations ... Pictures
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... Mechanical Bowel Obstruction
Extraluminal compression
Congenital abnormalities
Annular pancreas
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... Without Peritoneal Disease
Portal hypertension
Cirrhosis
Alcoholic hepatitis
Hepatic congestion
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... Infections
Bacterial
Acute bacterial peritonitis
Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (usually in cirrhotics with ascites)
... READ EXCERPTS »
... Signs and Symptoms Sudden, severe, abdominal pain, especially in area of underlying disorder; nausea and vomiting; abdominal rigidity
Treatment (Tx) Antibiotics, nothing by mouth, supportive care (I.V. fluid and electrolyte
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... Abdominal distention refers to increased abdominal girth—the result of increased intra-abdominal pressure forcing the abdominal wall outward. Distention may be mild or severe, depending on the amount of pressure. It may be localized or diffuse and may occur gradually or suddenly.... Emergency interventions ... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Geriatric pointers ... Patient counseling ... Pictures
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... Commonly detected on routine physical examination, an abdominal mass is a localized swelling in one abdominal quadrant. Typically, this sign develops insidiously and may represent an enlarged organ, a neoplasm, an abscess, a vascular defect, or a... Emergency interventions ... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Geriatric pointers ... Patient counseling ... Pictures
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... C. Randall Clinch
Ascites, the accumulation of fluid within the abdominal cavity, is the most common major complication of cirrhosis; it is present in 50% of patients with cirrhosis of 10 years’duration (1). Ascites... Approach ... History ... Physical examination ... Testing ... Diagnostic assessment
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... Differential Overview
Abdominal Mass
❑ Liver enlargement
❑ Spleen enlargement
❑ Fecal mass
❑ Diverticulitis ... Diagnostic Approach ... Clinical Findings
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... Peritonitis is an acute or chronic inflammation of the peritoneum, the membrane that lines the abdominal cavity and covers the visceral organs. Inflammation may extend throughout the peritoneum, or it may be localized as an abscess.
Peritonitis... Causes ... Signs and symptoms ... Diagnosis ... Treatment ... Special considerations
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... Abdominal distention refers to increased abdominal girth — the result of increased intra-abdominal pressure forcing the abdominal wall outward. Distention may be mild or severe, depending on the amount of pressure. It may be localized or diffuse and may occur gradually or... Emergency Actions ... History ... Physical assessment ... Medical causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Geriatric pointers ... Patient counseling ... Pictures
... READ EXCERPTS »
... Commonly detected on routine physical examination, an abdominal mass is a localized swelling in one abdominal quadrant. Typically, this sign develops insidiously and may represent an enlarged organ, a neoplasm, an abscess, a vascular defect, or a... Emergency Actions ... History ... Physical assessment ... Medical causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Geriatric pointers ... Patient counseling ... Pictures
... READ EXCERPTS »
...Although vomiting, abdominal pain, GI bleeding,hematuria, and fever accompany some types of abdominal mass lesions,other types occur without any associated signs and symptoms. Thus,it is especially important to examine the abdomen on each medicalvisit. ... Principal Causes of Abdominal Masses ... Clinical Features and Diagnosis ... Diagnostic Approach ... References
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... Abdominal distention refers to increased abdominal girth—the result of increased intra-abdominal pressure forcing the abdominal wall outward. Distention may be mild or severe, depending on the amount of pressure. It may be localized or... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Nursing considerations ... Patient teaching ... Pictures
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... Commonly detected on routine physical examination, an abdominal mass is a localized swelling in one abdominal quadrant. Typically, this sign develops insidiously and may represent an enlarged organ, a neoplasm, an abscess, a vascular defect, or a fecal mass.
Distinguishing... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Nursing considerations ... Patient teaching ... Pictures
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...
As the physician examines the abdomen, how can he or she recall all of
the causes of a mass or swelling? The physician should consider the
possibilities for the mass’s composition. It may be air, in which case
the physician would think of... Pictures
... READ EXCERPTS »
... Author:
Mindy Dickerman, MD
What to Do - Gather Appropriate Data
Acute pancreatitis can be classified as edematous, interstitial pancreatitis
(mild) or necrotizing pancreatitis (severe). Although most attacks of acute
pancreatitis are mild and patients... Suggested Readings
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... Author:
Michael S. Potter and Anthony Slonim, MD
What to Do - Make a Decision
Pediatric patients may experience fluid loss and dehydration in a number
of ways. The gastrointestinal tract represents one of the most... Suggested Readings ... Pictures
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... Ruben W. Cerri, MD Ascites - BASICS Ascites - description Ascites is defined as an abnormal amount of intraperitoneal fluid:These may be transudates (thin, low protein count and low specific ... Ascites - DIAGNOSIS ... Ascites - TREATMENT ... Ascites - FOLLOW UP ... Ascites - bibliography ... Ascites - CODES ... Ascites - FAQ
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... Vera De Matos, MDDror Wasserman, MD (4th Edition) Peritonitis - BASICS Peritonitis - description Inflammation of the peritoneum in reaction to infection or chemical irritation by organic fluids (GI ... Peritonitis - DIAGNOSIS ... Peritonitis - TREATMENT ... Peritonitis - FOLLOW UP ... Peritonitis - bibliography ... Peritonitis - CODES ... Peritonitis - FAQ
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