Diseases of the abdominal cavity are very often dangerous and require immediate surgical intervention. Symptoms in such diseases are also very extensive and intersect with symptoms of pneumonia or myocardial infarction, but such acute conditions do not require immediate intervention by the surgeon.
general characteristics
Acute inflammatory diseases of the abdominal organs are a whole clinical symptom complex that occurs against the background of diseases or damage to internal organs. Most often, the disease can only be eliminated with the help of a surgical operation.
The first examination, as a rule, is carried out at home or in the outpatient department. The later the patient seeks help, the worse the prognosis for recovery.
General symptoms and history taking
To make the correct diagnosis, the doctor requires a thorough medical history. Almost all injuries and diseases of the abdominal organs are accompanied by cramping pain in the abdomen. But this is a subjective symptom that needs clarification. Perhaps it all started after eating or hitting the peritoneum, the cause could be alcohol or a fall.
Along with the main symptom, pain can be accompanied by cutting and stitching sensations. In some patients, pain is radiating to the scapula, groin, lower back or scrotum. The doctor will also clarify what the frequency of pain is, how long they have been bothering the patient. Perhaps this is a girdle or chest pain.
Together with pain, the patient may have a feeling of nausea, and vomiting. In the presence of vomiting, it is very important how it is, exhausting or indomitable, how many times it was. What vomiting consists of: food that was consumed shortly before, or mucus. If it is mucus, then what color is it, what is its smell.
The opposite symptom of vomiting can be constipation or bloating. In this case, it is very important whether the patient suffers from constipation, and when defecation occurs, there is a blood content in it. What are the symptoms of defecation, is it possible that the patient has pain in the abdomen, is there rumbling and gas.
It is also very important to make a correct diagnosis whether abdominal pain is accompanied by an increase in body temperature. What is the situation with urination, is there a delay, is there an increase or decrease in the amount of urine.
Be sure the doctor must clarify with the patient whether previously any methods of eliminating abdominal pain were used, either prescribed by medical personnel or chosen independently, for example, enemas or a heating pad was applied.
Possible reasons
Diseases of the abdominal cavity can appear in a number of cases:
- If there was damage (shock) to the abdomen.
- Acute inflammatory processes, including peritonitis.
- Mechanical damage resulting in obstruction.
- Perforation of the genitals.
- Violations of the venous and arterial circulation. Such problems can cause the development of intestinal infarction, in some cases even gangrene begins against the background of intestinal obstruction.
- Bleeding in the peritoneum or gastrointestinal tract.
- Inflammatory processes in the female genital organs (ectopic pregnancy, torsion of the legs of the cyst, necrosis, tumors and others).
Acute intestinal obstruction
This type of pathology occurs against the background of violations in the process of moving the contents of the intestine. Obstruction may be partial or complete.
Also, dynamic or functional obstruction is distinguished, in which there may be spastic obstruction resulting from poisoning (by chemical or medicinal products). A foreign body, adhesions in the intestine can act as a provocateur in such a situation. The paralytic type of pathology can be a consequence of urolithiasis or cholelithiasis. Diagnosis of diseases of the abdominal organs in this case can be of some difficulty, as it is accompanied by multiple symptoms that can be confused with other diseases.
Mechanical obstruction occurs against a background of external factors: external pressure, due to narrowing of the lumen in the intestine, with the formation of nodes or with inversion of the intestines.
Symptoms of diseases of the abdominal organs with intestinal obstruction can be as follows:
- pain in the abdomen of different intensity and nature;
- bloating against constipation;
- nausea and vomiting, with fetid discharge.
In such cases, the patient’s condition worsens rapidly, facial features become aggravated, and there may be a strong and unpleasant odor from the mouth. The pulse is uneven, pressure may drop.
Emergency care in this case is as follows:
- the patient should be put to bed;
- the patient should not be given to drink and eat, only mouthwash is permissible;
- the introduction of "Polyglukin" and glucose is allowed;
- you can enter a 2% solution of No-shpa or a 1% solution of Diphenhydramine.
Call an ambulance team immediately for further hospitalization.
Acute appendicitis
This inflammatory disease of the abdominal cavity is subject to immediate surgical intervention. Pain sensations completely depend on where the process of the cecum is located. Also, the symptomatology depends on whether it is simple or purulent, spilled appendicitis.
The most characteristic signs: sharp and sharp pains in the abdomen, usually manifested by seizures. Pain begins with the area on the lower right abdomen, then can appear in the stomach and navel, then move to the area on the right. At the initial stage, nausea may be observed. If the process of the intestine is in the pelvic area, then the patient may have diarrhea. Body temperature can rise up to 40 degrees. On palpation of the abdomen, pain intensifies in the lower right area.
Before the ambulance arrives, the patient should be at rest, not allowed to eat or drink. In the abdomen on the right, you can attach an ice pack. If for 6 hours the patient has not been hospitalized, then he can be given Gentamicin and Ampicillin. Severe pain can be relieved by injection with “Analgin”. In no case should you use laxatives and a heating pad.
Perforated ulcer
This disease is characterized by sudden pain in the abdomen, equally it relates to a duodenal ulcer and a stomach ulcer. Vomiting very rarely appears, and if present, it immediately manifests itself after another attack. A person cannot be in a sitting or standing state, he needs to lie down, at this time his stomach is more like wood, very hard and does not participate in the breathing process. The clinical picture of perforated ulcers is very similar to acute appendicitis.
Treatment of diseases of the abdominal cavity with this type of pathology involves compliance with bed rest, refusal of water and drink.
Prior to the arrival of doctors or the patient’s delivery to a medical institution, in no case should you warm the abdomen, rinse your stomach, give an enema or give laxatives. You can only enter an anesthetic, for example, Tramal and an antibacterial agent - Gentamicin or Ampicillin.
Hernia
The development of this type of disease of the abdominal organs is possible after reduction of the hernia, or if there were previously problems with this formation. At the time of pinching, the patient has vomiting, which after some time consists not only of food, but also of bile. Symptoms of bowel obstruction appear . In advanced cases, in the area of ​​the hernia, the skin may redden, the organ itself protrudes, the body temperature rises, pain can be transmitted to the leg.
In this situation, the patient is also shown bed rest. If there is no medical facility nearby, then you can try to straighten the hernia yourself. First, the patient should enter an anesthetic, best of all, “No-shpu” or “Atropine”. Be sure to let the person go to the toilet. Then the patient lies down on his back, slightly raises and bends his legs, a pillow is placed under the buttocks. After 20 minutes, you can begin to slowly adjust the hernia, with soft and unhurried movements. After the procedure, the patient should not violate bed rest for at least a day.
Acute mesenteric thrombosis
Pathology is characterized by acute disruption in the circulatory system in the mesenteric vessels. It may appear against the background of thrombosis or embolism, and is typical for middle-aged and elderly people.
Depending on the level of vascular lesion, acute pains that may bother in the area of ​​the right iliac region, when the main trunk is damaged, are manifested. If the inferior mesenteric artery suffers, then pains are observed in the left ileal area. Symptomatic, thrombosis is very similar to intestinal obstruction and acute appendicitis. The patient may be disturbed by tachycardia, nausea with vomiting, bloating and delayed bowel movements.
Thrombosis of this type is attributed to surgical diseases of the abdominal cavity, as it actually poses a threat to human life. Mortality in this pathology ranges from 70% to 90%.
GI bleeding
The clinical picture of this acute condition consists of a sudden opening of bleeding. Associated symptoms include dizziness, loss of strength and low blood pressure, severe vomiting with blood clots. Feces become tarry, yellow circles appear around the patient's eyes, an increase in heart rate, severe sweating are noted .
Bleeding often occurs against the background of complications of a stomach ulcer or duodenal ulcer. If we are talking about mild bleeding, characterized by a chronic form, then a person may develop anemia.
Excessive bleeding is an acute surgical disease of the abdominal organs and requires immediate surgical intervention.
Peritonitis
As a rule, peritonitis occurs against the background of complications after appendicitis, ulcers, cholecystitis or trauma. It is characterized by an inflammatory process in the peritoneum. The inflammatory process can affect only a small area of ​​the peritoneum, and can be spilled, or involve the entire area in the process.
The acute form of this disease of the abdominal cavity organs is characterized by increasing pain, which increases with movement. A person cannot walk and sit; he needs to lie down. In the mouth, everything dries up, the patient is thirsty, and the tongue is covered with a whitish coating. After some time, vomiting opens, with the release of a brown and smelling liquid. The temperature can rise above 39 degrees.
On palpation, an increase in the volume of the abdomen is observed, the wall of the peritoneum is very hard and hurts from the slightest touch. If you listen to peristalsis, you can clearly hear the sounds. When the sounds subside in this area and the patient’s hiccups disappear, then this indicates that he is in an extremely serious condition.
In addition to bed rest, before arriving at the hospital, the patient can be entered "Gentamicin" and "Tramal" to relieve severe pain.
Abdominal injuries
With penetrating wounds, surgical disease of the abdominal cavity almost always occurs. If the spleen or liver is damaged, intra-abdominal bleeding is usually observed. A wounded person has a decrease in pressure and diffuse pain throughout the abdomen. With damage to the hollow organs, intestines or stomach, there is a symptomatology characteristic of inflammation of the peritoneum.
If we are talking about a minor injury, then conservative treatment can be used; in more severe cases, surgical treatment cannot be dispensed with.
Acute cholecystitis
This is a disease in which the gallbladder becomes inflamed. It all starts with a sudden pain in the right hypochondrium. The most common cause of an exacerbation of the inflammatory process is gallstone disease (90% of cases).
After the diagnosis of a surgical disease of the abdominal organs, treatment tactics are determined. It is possible that the operation will not be carried out even immediately after hospitalization, it all depends on the physical condition of the patient. In the first 8-12 hours, correction of metabolic processes can be carried out.
In the absence of a medical education and the ability to deliver the patient to the hospital, the introduction of painkillers and other medicines that may adversely affect human health is prohibited.