A Twist on Adolescent Abdominal Pain in the Emergency Department

Division

South Atlantic

Hospital

Orange Park Medical Center

Document Type

Case Report

Publication Date

7-27-2022

Keywords

abdominal pain, adolescent, emergency medicine, pediatrics emergency, sigmoid volvulus

Disciplines

Diagnosis | Digestive System Diseases | Emergency Medicine

Abstract

Abdominal pain is a common complaint in pediatric patients in the emergency department (ED). Evolutions in clinical practice have shifted away from computed tomography (CT) to ultrasound (US) in assessing abdominal pain. However, ultrasound may not reliably rule out critical diagnoses. We present a 15-year-old male with intermittent suprapubic abdominal pain. Subsequent CT imaging showed swirling mesenteric vessels with a dilated sigmoid colon. In adolescent abdominal pain, sigmoid volvulus (SV), although rare, should be considered. Clinicians should avoid anchoring bias by maintaining a broad differential. Definitive care is surgical with resection to prevent recurrence.

Publisher or Conference

Cureus

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