Acute Disorders of the Abdomen

1. Front Matter

   Pages I-XIX

   PDF

2. Clinical Investigation

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

      PDF

   2. General Considerations

      • V. I. Sreenivas

      Pages 3-8

   3. Neuroanatomic Considerations

      • V. I. Sreenivas

      Pages 9-15

   4. Medical History

      • V. I. Sreenivas

      Pages 17-22

   5. Physical Examination

      • V. I. Sreenivas

      Pages 23-29

   6. Imaging Procedures

      • V. I. Sreenivas

      Pages 31-43

   7. Laboratory Investigations

      • V. I. Sreenivas

      Pages 45-48

3. Specific Conditions

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 49-49

      PDF

   2. Acute Peritonitis

      • V. I. Sreenivas

      Pages 51-57

   3. Acute Appendicitis

      • V. I. Sreenivas

      Pages 59-68

   4. Acute Cholecystitis

      • V. I. Sreenivas

      Pages 69-77

   5. Perforated Gastroduodenal Ulcers

      • V. I. Sreenivas

      Pages 79-86

   6. Barogenic Rupture of the Esophagus (Boerhaave’s Syndrome)

      • V. I. Sreenivas

      Pages 87-95

   7. Acute Pancreatitis

      • V. I. Sreenivas

      Pages 97-106

   8. Acute Sigmoid Diverticulitis

      • V. I. Sreenivas

      Pages 107-114

   9. Intestinal Obstructions

      • V. I. Sreenivas

      Pages 115-128

   10. Strangulated Hernia

       • V. I. Sreenivas

       Pages 129-133

   11. Acute Salpingitis (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease)

       • V. I. Sreenivas

       Pages 135-141

   12. Ruptured Abdominal Aneurysm

       • V. I. Sreenivas

       Pages 143-149

The acute abdomen often perplexes the expert as well as the young physician. There are few areas in medicine in which Hippocrates' aphorism-the art is long, life is short, decision difficult, and delay perilous-is more applicable than here. Too often the harried physician fails to listen to the patient who is trying desperately to suggest the diagnosis. The significance of various types and location of pain often are neglected by the doctor. Physical findings are influenced by experience; the presence or absence of tenderness or a mass may be answered in entirely different ways by various observers. Because solid facts frequently are lacking, attempts to resolve diagnostic dilemmas by computer analysis or by algorithms are not likely to be successful. Fortunately, in the great majority of cases, unusual and difficult diagnostic procedures are not necessary for the identification of the acute abdomen and of the major disease. Astute clinical judgment must be based primarily upon careful attention to the pa­ tient's words and detailed observation.

• Baucherkrankung
• Tumor
• abdomen
• diagnosis
• imaging
• hepatology
• abdominal surgery

• The Hospital of Saint Raphael, New Haven, USA

  V. I. Sreenivas

• Department of Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, USA

  V. I. Sreenivas

• Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, USA

  V. I. Sreenivas

Policies and ethics