Abdominal Pain in Elderly Persons Questions & Answers

Updated: Jul 17, 2018
  • Author: E David Bryan, MD; Chief Editor: Barry E Brenner, MD, PhD, FACEP  more...
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Questions & Answers

Overview

How common is abdominal pain in elderly persons?

How is abdominal pain in the elderly evaluated?

Which factors increase the difficulty of correctly diagnosing abdominal pain in elderly persons?

What is the mortality rate for abdominal pain in elderly persons?

How common is abdominal pain in elderly persons caused by appendicitis?

What is the role of peptic ulcer disease in abdominal pain in elderly persons?

What is the pathophysiology of abdominal pain in elderly persons?

What is the role of biliary tract disease in abdominal pain in the elderly?

Which factors lead to delayed diagnosis and high complication rates for appendicitis-related abdominal pain in elderly persons?

What is the pathophysiology of diverticulitis-caused abdominal pain in elderly persons?

Why is it important to include mesenteric ischemia in the differential diagnoses of abdominal pain in elderly persons?

What are the signs and symptoms of mesenteric ischemia-caused abdominal pain in elderly persons?

What is the role of bowel obstruction in abdominal pain in elderly persons?

How is an abdominal aortic aneurysm cause of abdominal pain in the elderly diagnosed?

What is the prevalence of a malignancy etiology of abdominal pain in elderly persons?

What is the role of gastroenteritis in abdominal pain in elderly persons?

What are the signs and symptoms of a urinary tract infection etiology for abdominal pain in the elderly?

What are the signs and symptoms of MI or pneumonia-caused abdominal pain in elderly persons?

What are causes of abdominal pain in elderly persons?

What frequently is bowel obstruction the cause of abdominal pain in elderly persons?

What are the racial predilections of abdominal pain in elderly persons?

How does age affect the incidence of abdominal pain in elderly persons?

Presentation

What are the challenges to obtaining a patient history for abdominal pain in elderly persons?

What is the focus of clinical history in the evaluation of abdominal pain in elderly persons?

What are the associated symptoms of abdominal pain in elderly persons?

Which medical history findings help determine the etiology of abdominal pain in elderly persons?

What is the significance of vital signs in the evaluation of elderly persons with abdominal pain?

Which pulmonary findings may be significant in the evaluation of an elderly person with abdominal pain?

Which cardiovascular findings may be significant in the evaluation of an elderly person with abdominal pain?

Which abdominal findings are significant in the evaluation of an elderly person with abdominal pain?

What is the role of rectal and pelvic exams in the evaluation of elderly persons with abdominal pain?

DDX

What are important considerations in the diagnosis of abdominal pain in elderly persons?

Which conditions should be included in the differential diagnoses of abdominal pain in elderly persons?

What are the differential diagnoses for Abdominal Pain in Elderly Persons?

Workup

What is the role of complete blood count (CBC) in the workup of abdominal pain in elderly persons?

What is the role of serum chemistries in the workup of abdominal pain in elderly persons?

What is the role of serum lipase or amylase in the workup of abdominal pain in elderly persons?

What is the role of urinalysis in the workup of abdominal pain in elderly persons?

What is the role of blood cultures in the workup of abdominal pain in elderly persons?

What is the role of prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) in the workup of abdominal pain in elderly persons?

What is the role of arterial blood gases in the workup of abdominal pain in elderly persons?

What is the role of serum lactate in the workup of abdominal pain in elderly persons?

When is blood type and crossmatch indicated for the workup of abdominal pain in elderly persons?

What is the role of imaging studies in the workup of abdominal pain in elderly persons?

What is the role of abdominal radiography in the workup of abdominal pain in elderly persons?

What is the role of chest radiography in the workup of abdominal pain in elderly persons?

What is the role of abdominal ultrasonography in the workup of abdominal pain in elderly persons?

What is the role of CT scanning in the workup of abdominal pain in elderly persons?

What are significant CT findings in the diagnosis of abdominal pain in elderly persons?

What is the role of angiography in the workup of abdominal pain in elderly persons?

What is the role of ECG in the workup of abdominal pain in elderly persons?

Treatment

What is included in prehospital care for abdominal pain in elderly persons?

What is the initial emergency department (ED) care for abdominal pain in elderly persons?

What is the ED care for a suspected abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) etiology of abdominal pain in the elderly treated?

What is included in emergency department (ED) care of abdominal pain in elderly persons?

What is the role of medications in the ED treatment of abdominal pain in elderly persons?

When is inpatient admission indicated for the treatment of abdominal pain in elderly persons?

What are indications for patient discharge elderly persons with abdominal pain?

Which specialist consultations are beneficial to elderly patients with abdominal pain?

Medications

What are the goals of drug treatment for abdominal pain in elderly persons?

Which medications in the drug class Opioid Analgesics are used in the treatment of Abdominal Pain in Elderly Persons?

Which medications in the drug class Antispasmodics are used in the treatment of Abdominal Pain in Elderly Persons?