Jaundice (icterus) is the yellow discoloration of the skin, sclera, and mucosae, which is detectable when serum bilirubin concentrations exceed approximately 2.5 mg/dL. Jaundice can arise as a result of increased red blood cell (RBC) breakdown, disordered bilirubin metabolism, or reduced bilirubin excretion.
Serious ingestions can immediately result in perforation, shock, and even death. Intentional ingestions in adults tend to have more serious consequences. Long-term complications can lead to strictures and an increased risk of esophageal cancer.
Boerhaave syndrome is a spontaneous rupture of the esophagus. It usually results from barotrauma related to retching or any sudden increase in intraabdominal pressure against a closed glottis.
Blood clotting in the setting of chronic liver disease is complex and may result in a net prothrombotic or antithrombotic state. Complicating this situation is the lack of accurate lab assays to measure the net thrombotic state in liver disease patients.
Classic symptoms of appendicitis include pain that is initially vague and periumbilical followed by a more localized parietal pain in the right lower quadrant. Only 50% of people present with these classic symptoms; in the other 50%, appendicitis can be difficult to diagnosis.
Hematemesis is the vomiting of fresh (bright red) or altered ("coffee ground") blood. Melena is the production of black, tarry stools and is due to bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract of more than 100 mL of blood.
Many bacteria (e.g., Vibrio cholerae) secrete toxins that inhibit the ability of mucosal enterocytes to absorb NaCl and water and, at the same time, stimulate mucosal secretory activity. Bacteria or…
In the area of a gastric or duodenal peptic ulcer, the mucosa has been attacked by digestive juices to such an extent as to expose the subjacent connective tissue layer (submucosa).
Work-up for lower abdominal pain begins with resuscitation and exclusion of critical diagnoses: AAA (Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm); Mesenteric Ischemia; Perforation; SBO (small bowel obstruction); ectopic pregnancy
Abdominal Compartment Syndrome occurs when elevated intra-abdominal pressure (IAP), or, intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH), leads to new organ dysfunction. The incidence of abdominal compartment syndrome in the ED has not been reported, but in studies of trauma patients, the incidence is between 1% and 14%.