Exam Final week 5 (elaborations) NR 509 Abdomen and GU

NR 509 Final week 5 Abdomen and GU An overweight 26-year-old public servant presents to the Emergency Department with 12 hours of intense abdominal pain, light-headedness, and a fainting episode that finally prompted her to seek medical attention. She has a strong family history of gallstones and is concerned about this possibility. She has not had any vomiting or diarrhea. She had a normal bowel movement this morning. Her β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) is positive at triage. She reports that her last period was 10 weeks ago. Her vital signs at triage are pulse, 118; blood pressure, 86/68; respiratory rate, 20/min; oxygen saturation, 99%; and temperature, 37.3ºC orally. The clinician performs an abdominal exam prior to her pelvic exam and, on palpation of her abdomen, finds involuntary rigidity and rebound tenderness. What is the most likely diagnosis? a. Ruptured tubal (or ectopic) pregnancy b. Acute cholecystitis c. Ruptured appendix d. Perforated bowel wall e. Ruptured ovarian cyst - ANSWER Good! a. Ruptured tubal (or ectopic) pregnancy Rationale: The constellation of abdominal pain, syncope, tachycardia, hypotension, positive β-hCG, and findings suggestive of peritoneal inflammation/irritation strongly suggest a ruptured ectopic pregnancy with significant intra-abdominal bleeding leading to peritoneal signs. This case is emergent and requires immediate treatment of her hypotension and presumed blood loss as well as gynecological consult for emergent surgery. Ruptured ectopic pregnancies can lead to life-threatening intra-abdominal bleeding. Although acute cholecystitis, ruptured appendix, bowel wall perforation, and ruptured ovarian cyst are all possibilities, the positive β-hCG testing and her unstable vital signs make ruptured ectopic pregnancy more likely.