A Curious Case of Right Upper Quadrant Abdominal Pain

West J Emerg Med. 2016 Sep;17(5):630-3. doi: 10.5811/westjem.2016.7.31011. Epub 2016 Aug 8.

Abstract

An otherwise healthy 36-year-old man presented with sudden-onset right upper quadrant abdominal pain and vomiting. A bedside ultrasound, performed to evaluate hepatobiliary pathology, revealed a normal gallbladder but free intraperitoneal fluid. After an expedited CT and emergent explorative laparotomy, the patient was diagnosed with a small bowel obstruction with ischemia secondary to midgut volvulus. Though midgut volvulus is rare in adults, delays in definitive diagnosis and management can result in bowel necrosis. Importantly, an emergency physician must be able to recognize bedside ultrasound findings associated with acutely dangerous intrabdominal pathology.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abdominal Pain / etiology
  • Adult
  • Digestive System Abnormalities / diagnosis*
  • Digestive System Abnormalities / diagnostic imaging
  • Digestive System Abnormalities / surgery*
  • Emergency Service, Hospital
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Obstruction / diagnosis
  • Intestinal Obstruction / diagnostic imaging*
  • Intestinal Volvulus / diagnosis*
  • Intestinal Volvulus / diagnostic imaging
  • Intestinal Volvulus / surgery*
  • Intestine, Small / abnormalities*
  • Intestine, Small / surgery
  • Male
  • Ultrasonography

Supplementary concepts

  • Volvulus Of Midgut