Many people go to the emergency department, when it isn’t anactual emergency. A 64-year-old man presents to the emergencydepartment with abdominal pain and distention, as well asconstipation of 8 days’ duration. He denies vomiting, fever,diarrhea, or dysuria. Except for hypertension, he is otherwisehealthy with no prior surgeries.
His vital signs are normal except for a borderline pulse of 99bpm. His physical examination is unremarkable except for hisabdomen, which is large, rotund, and tympanitic. There is diffusetenderness everywhere in the abdomen.
- What history would you want to obtain?
- What differential diagnoses would you consider?
- List and describe the specific diagnostic tests you might orderto determine cause of his concern?
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