ABDOMINAL RIGIDITY

Ask the following questions:

1. Is there tenderness and rebound tenderness? If this is absent, consider voluntary rigidity. If this is present, the finding must be considered serious.
2. Is there a history of trauma? A history of trauma brings to mind the possibility of a ruptured spleen or other abdominal organ rupture or laceration.
3. Is there a history of recurrent abdominal pain? This finding should make one think of a ruptured peptic ulcer or diverticulum or a perforated gallbladder, although appendicitis may occasionally be preceded by bouts of abdominal pain. If there is no history of trauma or abdominal pain, consider ruptured appendix, pelvic inflammatory disease ( PID ), ruptured ectopic pregnancy, peritonitis, pancreatitis, mesenteric, thrombosis, and ruptured abdominal aneurysm.

DIAGNOSTIC WORKUP

A stat CBC, urinalysis, chemistry panel, amylase and lipase, and flat plate and upright film of the abdomen should be done. Immediate consult with a general surgeon is in order. If surgery is to be delayed or when the exact cause of the rigidity is in doubt, consider ordering a chest x-ray to rule out pneumonia and a peritoneal tap to exclude ruptured ectopic pregnancy, generalized peritonitis, and laparoscopy. Blood cultures, abdominal ultrasound, and CT scans of the abdomen may be necessary to diagnose cholecystitis, diverticulitis, aortic aneurysm, and various neoplasms associated with rupture. Exploratory laparotomy must be considered in any case of unexplained tenderness and rigidity when the diagnosis is in doubt.

Book Source Details

• Book Title: Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs
• Author(s): R. Douglas Collins
• Year of Publication: 2003
• Copyright Details: Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs, Copyright © 2003 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Other Book Chapters Related to Abdominal symptoms

Read excerpts from these other book chapters related to Abdominal symptoms:

Copyright Details: Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs, Copyright © 2008 Williams & Wilkins.

More About Causes of Abdominal symptoms

• Back to symptom: Abdominal symptoms: Introduction (review 3124 causes)
• Next Book Extract About Abdominal symptoms: ABDOMINAL SWELLING, FOCAL (Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs)
• All Book Extracts: All Online Book Extracts for Abdominal symptoms

More About This Book: Title: Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs Authors: R. Douglas Collins Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Copyright: 2003 ISBN: 0-7817-3805-9

 » Next page: ABDOMINAL SWELLING, FOCAL (Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs)

Rate This Website

What do you think about the features of this website? Take our user survey and have your say:

Website User Survey

Medical Tools & Articles:

Next articles:

• ABDOMINAL SWELLING, FOCAL (Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs)
• ABDOMINAL SWELLING, GENERALIZED (Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs)
• NAUSEA AND VOMITING (Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs)
• Abdominal Pain in Lower Quadrants (In a Page: Signs and Symptoms)
• Abdominal Pain in Upper Quadrants (In a Page: Signs and Symptoms)

Tools & Services:

• Bookmark this page
• Take a survey relating to Abdominal symptoms
• Symptom Search
• Symptom Checker
• Medical Dictionary
• Give your feedback

Medical Articles:

• Disease & Treatments Search
• Misdiagnosis Center
• Full list of interesting articles

Forums & Message Boards

• Ask or answer a question at the Boards:
• I cannot get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for my condition?
• See all the Boards.

Enter your search terms Submit search form
Search The Web Search wrongdiagnosis.com

Common Health Mistakes

Symptom
Checker

Search Specialists by State and City