The Acute Abdomen is emergency case. We should know and do what we can do for the patient

1. INTRODUCING THE ACUTE
ABDOMEN
Abdul Mughni Rozy
Surgery Dept.- Medical Faculty of Diponegoro University
www.undip.ac.id

2. Objective :
Define the acute abdomen.
Describe the cause and pathophysiology of the following acute abdominal
diseases:
a. acute appendicitis - inflammatory
b. acute small bowel obstruction - mechanical
c. mesenteric vascular occlusion vascular
d. perforated duodenal ulcer perforated viscus
e. peritonitis
Identify and describe the symptoms, signs, clinical course and laboratory
and x-ray findings for the acute abdominal diseases listed under Objective 2.
Identify the clinical features that help to distinguish the surgical from the
non-surgical acute abdomen.
Construct an approach to evaluation and management of the acute
abdomen.

3. Definition of the Acute Abdomen
as an intraabdominal process causing severe pain and
often requiring surgical intervention.
It is a condition that requires a fairly immediate
judgment or decision as to management.

4. Causes of the acute abdomen :
a. inflammatory
b. mechanical
c. neoplastic
d. vascular
e. congenital defects
f. traumatic

5. inflammatory
1) Bacterial
Acute appendicitis
Diverticulitis
Pelvic inflammatory disease
2) Chemical.
perforation of a peptic ulcer

6. Mechanical
obstructive conditions
incarcerated hernia,
post-operative adhesions,
intussusception,
malrotation of the gut with volvulus,
congenital atresia or stenosis of the gut.
carcinoma of the colon.

7. Vascular
mesenteric arterial thrombosis or embolism.  blood
supply is cut off, necrosis of tissue results, with
gangrene of the bowel.

8. Congenital
duodenal atresia,
omphalocele
diaphragmatic hernia
chronic malrotation of the intestine.

9. Traumatic
stab and gunshot wounds
blunt abdominal injuries
splenic rupture.
Liver Rupture
Perforation of GI Track

10. Reference
The Acute Abdomen : available in :
http://www.ece.ncsu.edu/imaging/MedImg/SIMS/Mod
ule2/GE2_4.html