The term acute abdomen refers to a sudden, severe pain in the abdomen that is less than 24 hours in duration. It is a surgical emergency requiring urgent and specific diagnosis. Treatment may be life-saving. This treatment will be, in many cases but not always, an operation. The abdomen is a part of the body. ...

Causes

The differential diagnosis of acute abdomen includes:

1. Acute appendicitis.
2. Acute peptic ulcer and its complications.
3. Acute gall bladder pathology, such as an impacted gallstone.
4. Acute pancreatitis.
5. Acute intestinal ischaemia, usually secondary to thrombotic occlusion of the mesenteric arteries.
6. In children, Diabetic Ketoacidosis

Acute abdomen is frequently used as a synonym for peritonitis, which may result from several of the above diseases, notably appendicitis and pancreatitis. Appendicitis (or epityphlitis) is a condition characterized by inflammation of the appendix[1]. While mild cases may resolve without treatment, most require removal of the inflamed appendix, either by laparotomy or laparoscopy. ... A benign gastric ulcer (from the antrum) of a gastrectomy specimen. ... The gallbladder (or cholecyst) is a pear-shaped organ that stores bile (or gall) until the body needs it for digestion. ... Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. ... In medicine, ischemia (Greek ισχαιμία, isch- is restriction, hema or haema is blood) is a restriction in blood supply, generally due to factors in the blood vessels, with resultant damage or dysfunction of tissue. ... In anatomy, a mesentery is a part of the peritoneum that connects an internal organ, such as the small intestine, to the abdominal wall. ... Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is one consequence of untreated diabetes mellitus (chronic high blood sugar, or hyperglycemia), and is linked to an impaired glucose cycle. ... Appendicitis (or epityphlitis) is a condition characterized by inflammation of the appendix[1]. While mild cases may resolve without treatment, most require removal of the inflamed appendix, either by laparotomy or laparoscopy. ... Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. ...

Ischemic Acute Abdomen

Vascular disorders are more likely to affect the small bowel than the large bowel. Arterial supply to the intestines is provided by the superior and inferior mesenteric arteries, (SMA and IMA respectively) both of which are direct branches of the aorta.

The SMA supplies:

1. Small bowel.
2. Ascending and proximal 2/3 of the Transverse colon.

The IMA supplies: Diagram showing the small intestine In biology the small intestine is the part of the gastrointestinal tract between the stomach and the large intestine (colon). ... Colon has several meanings: colon (anatomy) colon (punctuation) colon (rhetoric) See also Colón This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

1. Distal 1/3 of the Transverse colon.
2. Descending Colon
3. Sigmoid Colon.

Of note, the splenic flexure, or the junction between the transverse and descending colon, is supplied by the most distal portions of both the IMA and SMA, and is thus referred to medically as a watershed area, or an area especially vulnerable to ischemia during periods of systemic hypoperfusion, such as in shock (medical). Colon has several meanings: colon (anatomy) colon (punctuation) colon (rhetoric) See also Colón This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Grays Fig. ... This article is about the medical condition. ...

Acute abdomen of the ischemic variety is usually due to:

1. A thromboembolism from the left side of the heart, such as may be generated during atrial fibrillation, occluding the SMA.
2. Nonocclusive ischemia, such as that seen in hypotension secondary to heart failure may also contribute, but usually results in a mucosal or mural infarct, as contrasted with the typically transmural infarct seen in thromboembolus of the SMA.
3. Primary mesenteric vein thromboses may also cause ischemic acute abdomen, usually precipitated by hypercoagulable states such as polycythemia vera.

Clinically, patients present with diffuse abdominal pain, bowel distention, and bloody diarrhea. On physical exam, bowel sounds will be absent. Laboratory tests reveal a neutrophilic leukocytosis, sometimes with a left shift, and increased serum amylase. Abdominal radiography will show many air-fluid levels, as well as widespread edema. Thrombosis is the formation of a clot or thrombus inside a blood vessel, obstructing the flow of blood through the circulatory system. ... Atrial fibrillation (AF or afib) is an abnormal heart rhythm (cardiac arrhythmia) which involves the two small, upper heart chambers (the atria). ...

Acute ischemic abdomen is a surgical emergency. Typically, treatment involves removal of the region of the bowel that has undergone infarction, and subsequent anastomosis of the remaining healthy tissue. This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... // Anastomosis (plural anastomoses) refers to a form of network in which streams both branch out and reconnect. ...