Abdominal syndrome
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Abdominal syndrome, more often referred to as the "acute abdomen", is an urgent pathological condition, the leading symptom of which is abdominal pain caused by the abdominal internal pathology caused by complications, abdominal cavity pathology, abdominal trauma.
[Causes Abdominal syndrome
What causes the abdominal syndrome?
Diseases that cause the development of a condition such as abdominal syndrome can be conditionally divided into 2 types: functional, arising from a spasm of smooth muscles of the organs or outflow ducts, defined as colic; organic, developing in inflammation, strangulated hernia, obstruction, perforation of hollow organs, rupture of parenchymal organs.
Spasmodic pains (colic) can be caused by a neural-reflex path or arise during the passage of stones that can be trapped in the duct, causing a complication with the transition to organic pathology, for example, infringement of the stone in the bile duct will lead to jaundice, and inflammation may join. A distinctive feature of them is the cramping character, which stops within 1-2 hours by the appointment of antispasmodics, absence of palpatory symptoms of peritoneal irritation (abdominal wall tension, Shtetkin-Blumberg symptom). With confidence in the absence of peritonitis, to stop colic, you can add sedatives and analgesics to antispasmodics. From organic pathology only acute intestinal obstruction gives cramping pains, but its clinic differs sharply from colic: dehydration, which does not bring relief to vomiting, the gaping ampulla of rectum during rectal examination (symptom of Obukhov hospital), etc.
The definition of the affected organ or system depends on the location of the pain; since each organ is projected reflexively onto the abdominal wall, and its irradiation. The nature is determined by a detailed local examination with the identification of specific symptoms, laboratory studies, better in dynamics, and the necessary instrumental: studies on the evidence to confirm the diagnosis, established by history and physical examination.
Abdominal syndrome in the vast majority of cases is caused by diseases of the abdominal cavity organs, but pseudo abdominal syndrome can also form, when due to reflex connections, irradiating pains in the abdomen can give diseases of other organs.
Pseudo abdominal syndrome can develop with heart pathology, especially myocardial infarction, angina, with pleural cavity pathology - exudate and purulent pleurisy, lower-grade pneumonia; with urological diseases - urolithiasis, pyelonephritis, acute urinary retention, paranephritis; with diseases and injuries of the central and peripheral nervous system - meningitis, tumors, traumas of the brain and spinal cord, radiculitis, neuralgia; infectious diseases - influenza, measles, scarlet fever, shingles, food poisoning, a number of other diseases - diabetes, rheumatism, chronic lead intoxication, endometriosis, etc. In children, pseudo abdominal syndrome causes tonsillitis and tonsils, otitis (Brennemann's disease - often occurs as cholecystitis), meningitis, osteomyelitis.
Diagnostics Abdominal syndrome
How to recognize abdominal syndrome?
In terms of differential diagnosis: they have abdominal pain, there may be vomiting, intestinal paresis, or hyperperistaltic, dry tongue, tachycardia, or bradycardia, but they have no palpable symptoms of peritoneal irritation (anterior abdominal wall tension and the Shtetkin-Blumberg symptom). With a qualitative history with a full physical examination and additional instrumental studies, the underlying pathology that causes the pseudo abdominal syndrome always appears.
Treatment Abdominal syndrome
What to do if there was an abdominal syndrome?
In all cases of the disease that provoke abdominal syndrome, if there are no clear signs of another pathology (myocardial infarction, gynecological, infectious, pulmonary pathology, etc.), the patient must be taken to the surgical hospital by emergency care.