MALE DAVID CHEN PRESENTING WITH
SEVERE ABDOMINAL PAIN AND VOM
Case
,Simulated Patient Case: NUR 2026 Week 10
Setting: Outpatient Clinic with Laboratory Capabilities
Learner Level: Advanced Nursing/Medical Student
I. Patient Information & Chief Complaint
• Name: David Chen
• Age: 62-year-old male
• Chief Complaint (CC): "Severe stomach pain and vomiting for the last 6 hours."
• History of Present Illness (HPI):
Mr. Chen is a 62-year-old male who presents to the outpatient clinic
accompanied by his wife. He reports the sudden onset of severe, constant,
"boring" epigastric and right upper quadrant abdominal pain approximately 6
hours ago. The pain began shortly after a large family dinner. It radiates straight
through to his mid-back. He describes the pain as 9/10 in severity, unrelieved by
changing position or antacids.
He has experienced 4 episodes of non-bilious, non-bloody vomiting, which
provided minimal and transient relief. He denies fever or chills but admits to
feeling sweaty and nauseated.
o SOCRATES: Site (Epigastric/RUQ), Onset (Sudden, 6 hrs ago), Character
(Constant, boring, severe), Radiation (To mid-back), Associated symptoms
(Nausea, vomiting, diaphoresis), Timing (Constant), Exacerbating/Relieving
factors (None, vomiting slight transient relief), Severity (9/10).
• Past Medical History (PMH):
o Hyperlipidemia (diet-controlled, per patient).
, o Symptomatic Gallstones diagnosed via ultrasound 18 months ago. He
declined elective cholecystectomy at that time due to work commitments.
o Hypertension (well-controlled with lisinopril 10mg daily).
o No known diabetes, CAD, or COPD.
• Past Surgical History (PSH): Tonsillectomy (age 10), Appendectomy (age 22).
• Medications:
o Lisinopril 10mg daily.
o Multivitamin daily.
o No NSAIDs, anticoagulants, or herbal supplements.
• Allergies: No known drug allergies (NKDA).
• Social History:
o Married, father of two. Works as an accountant.
o Smoking: 15-pack-year history, quit 5 years ago.
o Alcohol: Socially, 1-2 glasses of wine on weekends.
o Diet: Reports a typical "Western" diet. Admits the dinner last night was
high in fat (fried foods, creamy sauces).
• Family History: Father: MI at age 70. Mother: Type 2 Diabetes. No family history
of GI malignancies.
II. Comprehensive Physical Assessment
• General Appearance: A 62-year-old male appearing uncomfortable, pale, and
diaphoretic. He is lying still on the exam table, knees slightly flexed, reluctant to
move. Anxious but cooperative.
• Vital Signs:
o BP: 152/94 mmHg (Right arm, sitting)
o HR: 112 bpm (regular, tachycardic)
o RR: 22 breaths/min (slightly tachypneic)
o Temp: 37.8°C (100.0°F) (oral, low-grade fever)
o SpO2: 98% on room air
o Pain: 9/10
• Systems Examination:
o Abdominal:
▪ Inspection: Abdomen is not distended. No visible scars (aside from
old appendectomy scar RLQ), masses, or peristaltic waves.