Title: Management and Outcome of Acute Abdomen
Authors: Dr A.Kalyani, Dr G.Sree Lakshmi Prasanna, Dr Y.Vamsee Priya, Dr K.Vamsi Krishna
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v7i12.32
Abstract
Background: The term acute abdomen refers to symptoms and signs of intraabdominal diseases usually treated best by surgical procedure. Some diseases, which do not require surgical treatment, produce abdominal pain, so we should evaluate the patients with abdominal pain methodically and carefully. Treatment of patients with acute abdominal pain requires an accurate decision about the need for surgical procedure. The term “acute abdomen” doesn't always imply that it should be managed by a surgical procedure. An accurate diagnosis can be made usually only after surgery. The majority of cases of severe abdominal pains that seen in patients who have been apparently well recently, and that last more than six hours, are caused by conditions of surgical importance.
Materials and Methods: This study includes 70 patients presenting with acute abdominal pain. Sampling was done to study the incidence of non-traumatic causes of acute abdominal conditions presenting to the emergency department. Inclusion criteria were patients who gave consent to participate in the study, patients with a history of acute onset of abdominal pain, positive findings on ultrasonography of abdomen, and X-ray erect abdomen.
Results: All patients presented with acute pain abdomen
The males outnumbered the females in the ratio of 3.11:1.
Maximum number of cases 18 (25.71 %) occurred in the age group 41-50 years.
The common cause of acute abdomen was hollow viscus perforation in 25 cases (35.71 %).All patients who underwent emergency laparotomy and were managed according to the etiology. There was significant postoperative wound infection in 11 cases (15.71 %).There was mortality in 5 cases (7.14%) of the total 70 patients that were studied. Delayed presentation of the patient with hypotension, comorbid diseases increases the rate of morbidity and mortality.
Conclusion: Acute abdomen is one of the common surgical emergency encountered by any surgeon. Appropriate approach to diagnose is mandatory. Acute appendicitis is the most common cause of abdominal surgical emergency.
Keywords: Acute abdomen, Emergency surgery, Complications.
