18 Oct As you know, abdominal pain can be a challenging patient complaint because it is frequently benign, but it can also herald serious acute pathology.

As you know, abdominal pain can be a challenging patient complaint because it is frequently benign, but it can also herald serious acute pathology. The history and physical examination are critical to narrowing the differential diagnosis of abdominal pain and guiding the evaluation. Acute abdominal pain frequently requires urgent investigation and management. Some patients may require the assessment of their airway, breathing, and circulation, followed by appropriate resuscitation. Many patients will require analgesics, which can be administered judiciously without compromising the physical assessment of peritoneal signs. That said, what are the common differential diagnoses of abdominal pain in emergency situations? Also, does your healthcare institution have a specific policy, algorithm and/or protocol on how to assess, manage, and treat abdominal pain? Please share an example of the protocol for abdominal pain from practice or the literature.

DQ2 You studied the cardiovascular system in your readings last week.  This week you completed a focused assessment of Brian Foster, a patient who is assessed for chest pain.  Please share your analysis of the subjective & objective data you collected during your assessment and provide your differential diagnoses, describing your clinical reasoning that helped you choose your diagnoses.  Share your individualized plan of care for Brian and include any lifespan or developmental considerations as well as cultural needs for this patient.