Category: Abdo/Pelvis

15-Oct-2026

Aortic Dissection

Aortic Dissection (AD), is uncommon (1:980 non-traumatic chest pain) but is…Rapidly FATAL! However, is testable for 80% if recognised early, unfortunately recognising aortic dissection is difficult with a clinician pickup rate of 15-43%.

01-Jun-2026

Sickle Cell

Painful Crisis

Severe pain is the most common reason that patients with sickle cell, will attend the ED. The pain can be agonising (and often underestimated by us), we need to act fast to help ease the symptoms

31-Dec-2025

Swallowed Foriegn Body

The ingestion of a foreign body or multiple foreign bodies (FB) is a common presenting complaint in paediatric surgery, with a peak incidence from 12-24 months however, can occur at any age. Ingested foreign bodies rarely cause problems; almost 80% of patients pass the foreign body without intervention – in seven days2 (only 1% require surgical removal). However, occasionally foreign bodies can cause significant morbidity (for example, oesophageal rupture) and 1% require surgical removal.

The presenting symptoms and outcomes of an ingested foreign body is highly dependent on the swallowed object, and for this reason, the guidance for hazardous and non-hazardous foreign body ingestion has been divided accordingly.

Using the Metal Detector

Non-Hazardous Objects

Button Battery

Ingestion of Button Battery = POTENTIAL EMERGENCY

See separate post for more resources and education if desired.

Magnets

Sharp Objects

PDF copy – HERE

26-Jul-2024

Hyperemesis Gravidarum

Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy is common and at best an unpleasant experience for the patient, and at worst can be life threatening. It normal starts @ 4-7/40, peaks @ 9/40, and finishes @ 20/40.

We need to conduct a thorough history and examination looking for causes other than a high βHCG. these include:

Abdominal pathology
Urinary pathology
Infections
Drug History
Chronic H.Pylori