Be Aware of the Stoic Man

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Author: Taylor Brittan, MSIV
University of Queensland-Ochsner Clinic
AAEM/RSA Education Committee

Introduction
There are several patient populations to which we are attentive so as not to miss a diagnosis in the context of an atypical presentation. Typical cases include the elderly, female, diabetics, or those with HIV.[1,2,3] I contend that there is another group which we should assess with even more caution—the stoic man.

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: