70 old man complaining of severe suprapubic pain, vitally stable, electrolytes are normal, C-ray shows no air under diaphragm. What is the most important test to do?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking which test is most important to perform for a 70-year-old man with severe suprapubic pain but normal vital signs and electrolytes, especially after a C-ray that shows no air under the diaphragm.
Answer
CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis.
The most important test to do is a CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis.
Answer for screen readers
The most important test to do is a CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis.
More Information
In patients presenting with severe suprapubic pain and no air under the diaphragm on X-ray, a CT scan is useful to confirm or rule out conditions such as bowel obstruction or other intra-abdominal pathologies.
Tips
A common mistake is not considering bowel obstructions or other abdominal issues that might not present with free air on an X-ray.
Sources
- Question Sets and Answers - PMC - PubMed Central - pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
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