Analgesia for Acute Abdominal Pain in the ED

Author: Ken Young, MS4
Loyola Stritch School of Medicine

While this post may involve less new information and more beating of dead horses, two recent experiences have reminded me of what I found to be an interesting concept in medicine — the belief that pain medications interfere with diagnosis in acute abdominal pain.

Recently, a friend of mine had a case of appendicitis, presented to his local ED, and was promptly told he could not be given any pain medication because it would “mask his abdominal exam.” Shortly after this, while studying for my final exam of medical school, I read the following in a case study on abdominal pain:

Be a Non-Terrible Medical Student in Ten Easy Steps

Author: Gregory Wanner, DO PA-C

Thomas Jefferson University Hospital

As the year moves on there is excitement in the air. Birds are chirping, flowers blooming, and second-year medical students are getting ready for clinical rotations. There are many ways to be a terrible student on rotations, but terribleness should probably be avoided. A better plan involves learning some methods of being a good clinical student. I’ll share some hints.