June 28, 2009

Anatomy of Abdominal Pain for EMTs & Paramedics and Episode 173

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Welcome to Episode 173

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EMS Chief Narrates Train Crash Response

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Tip of the Week Anatomy of Abdominal Pain for EMTs & Paramedics

Abdominal pain, also known as stomach ache, tummy ache, or belly pain, is one of the most common complaints of people seeking medical help in the ER. In the U.S. Government Census Data on ER visits in the year 2005, abdominal pain figures are high on the list for adults.

Paramedics and EMTs see many different types of patients whose chief complaint is abdominal pain every day. But one person’s abdominal pain is not the same as another person’s pain. It is important to know which organs are present in the various quadrants and what each different area’s pain means.

There are a number of organs found in the abdominal cavity so the pain can originate from any one of those. However, there are certain conditions not related to those organs, that can cause abdominal pain like shingles, pneumonia and strep throat in children.

Proper assessment and asking the right questions may help identify the possible cause of abdominal pain. Some of the questions may pertain to the characteristic of the pain (is it dull, knife-like, cramping, or twisting?), location (specific region of the abdomen), frequency (how often does it happen), duration (how long does each episode take), and intensity (is it tolerable or unbearable). Asking if there are other symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea and fever may also help. Instances cited below makes it an emergency situation:

vomiting with inability to pass stool (may indicate intestinal obstruction)
vomiting blood or maroon, dark, tarry black stool (indicates internal bleeding)
chest, neck, or shoulder pain
sudden, sharp abdominal pain
pain in your shoulder blades with nausea
belly is rigid, hard, and tender to touch (usually associated with ruptured appendix)

Specific treatment can not be started unless the real cause of the pain is identified through diagnostic tests.

Abdominal Pain in Adults by eMedicineHealth

Abdominal Pain in Children by eMedicineHealth

MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

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