Upper abdominal pain ddx
Gastrointestinal
Pain from nearby areas
Right upper abdominal pain ddx
Gall bladder
Liver
Other gastrointestinal
Pain from nearby areas
Left upper abdominal pain ddx
Right iliac fossa pain
Gastrointestinal
Reproductive (female)
Reproductive (male)
Urinary
Pain from nearby areas
Suprapubic abdominal pain ddx
Flank abdominal pain ddx
Renal tract
Other
Referred abdominal pain ddx
Abdominal pain hx
General abdominal pain ddx
Abdominal pain examinations
General examinations for abdominal pain
FBC, ESR
Low Hb can show peptic ulcer, malignancy. High WCC indicates infection/inflam. High ESR can indicate Crohn’s or TB.
U&Es
Urea and Creatinine up will provide insight into uraemia.
LFTs
Thinking cholangitis and hepatitis or acute cholecystitis.
Serum amylase
Pancreatitis. Perforated peptic ulcer or bowel infarct can raise also.
MSU
Blood, protein, culture epositive in pyelonephritis. Red cells in ureteric colic. Must think of glomerular disease also.
CXR
Perforated viscus (gas under diaph.) or lower lobar pneumonia.
AXR
Obstruction (dilated loops of bowel). Local ileus (sentinel loop) – pancreatitis, acute appendicitis. Toxic dilation of UC or Crohn’s. Renal calculi. Calcified aorta aneurysm. Radio-opaque gallstones.
US
Abscesses (appendix, diverticular). Fluid in peritonitis. Aortic aneurysm. Ectopic pregnancy. Gallstones. Kidney cysts/tumours.
Specific examinations for abdominal pain
Constipations differential diagnosis
Congenital
Obstruction
Anal pain
Adynamic bowel
Endocrine
Drugs
Other
Relevant history constipation
Age
Explore timing, relieving/excacerbating and previous episodes
? Pain Hx (SOCRATES)
Associated (GIT history symptoms)
Constitutional symptoms
PMHx (surgery and trauma especially)
Medication
FHx (colon Ca, diabetes, HTN, IBD)
Menstrual history (if appropriate) Sexual history (if appropriate)
Examinations constipation
General investigations for constipation
FBC, ESR
Hb low can be anaemia with Ca, WCC high can be diverticular disease. High ESR can be Ca
U&E
High urea with dehydration
Sigmoidoscopy
Tumour or Hirschsprung disease
AXR
Obstruction
Diarrhoea ddx
Infective enteritis
Inflammatory
Malabsorption
Neoplastic
**Pancreatic **
Drug
Other
History for diarrhoea
Examinations for diarrhoea
Investigations for diarrhoea
FBC, ESR
Stool culture and microscopy
U&E
LFTs
Sigmoidoscopy
Colonscopy
Barium enema
Specific investigations for diarrhoea
Duodenal/jejunal biopsy
Coeliac disease
Jaundice differential diagnosis
Preheptic
Hepatic
Posthepatic
History for jaundice
Age
? Pain Hx (SOCRATES)
Associated (GIT history symptoms)
Constitutional symptoms (weight loss, malaise)
PMHx
Medication
FHx (Liver disease)
SHx (Alcohol, travel and occupation)
Examination for jaundice