Abdominal Pain
Acute vs Subacute vs Chronic Trauma Classification Methods Region of Pain: RUQ, LUQ, LLQ, RLQ, etc
History: OLDCARTS
O: Onset L: Location D: Duration C: Characteristics A: Aggravating factors R: Relieving factors T: Timing S: Severity
Complex presentation with an exceptionally broad DDx, multiple ways to classify based on etiology, mechanism, or presentation. DDx generation: VINDICATE mnemonic
VINDICATE: Vascular, Infection / Inflammatory, Neoplastic, Drugs/Deficiency/Degenerative, Idiopathic/Intoxication/Iatrogenic, Congenital, Autoimmune/Allergic/Anatomic, Trauma, Endocrine / Metabolic
Structure based on location: RUQ, LUQ, LLQ, RLQ, etc; moving front to back or back to front thinking of anatomic structures that might be involved in the pain.