Medical Emergencies · Chapter 16 Not started

GI, Genitourinary & Reproductive Emergencies

Acute abdomens, GI bleeding, and the complaints you treat symptomatically and transport.

Key points

You don't diagnose abdominal pain in the field — you recognize sick, package, and transport. Sudden severe pain, rigidity, or guarding is an acute abdomen.
Position of comfort (usually supine with knees flexed), nothing by mouth, treat for shock, transport.
GI bleeding shows as vomited blood (bright or coffee-ground) or in stool (black tarry, or bright red) — both can produce hypovolemic shock.
Suspect internal bleeding in any abdominal complaint after trauma; the belly can hide liters of blood with little to see externally.
Flank pain radiating to the groin suggests kidney stones — dramatic pain, but assess fully and transport rather than assume.

Knowledge check1 / 3