Abstract
Three patients, 2 men aged 22 and 62 years en I woman aged 49, presented with symptoms of an acute abdomen. While infiltrative signs were described on radiodiagnostic images two patients underwent laparotomies. In all three subsequently the diagnosis of pneumonia was established and the patients made full recovery after antibiotic therapy. When a patient presents with symptoms of an acute abdomen, the possibility of an existing pneumonia should always be borne in mind. It is therefore recommended to make a chest radiograph with frontal and lateral view. In the presence of infiltrative signs the existence of pneumonia as the cause of abdominal symptoms should be considered in order to avoid unnecessary laparotomy.
| Translated title of the contribution | Acute abdomen: don't forget the thorax |
|---|---|
| Original language | Dutch |
| Pages (from-to) | 305-308 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde |
| Volume | 144 |
| Issue number | 7 |
| Publication status | Published - 18 Feb 2000 |
| Externally published | Yes |