Urgent surgery for a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm
An elderly man presents to ED with worsening pain. What’s the next move?
Bill, a normally well 74-year-old, presents to the emergency department of a regional Queensland hospital via ambulance.
He complains of central to right-sided abdominal pain that has been brewing over the previous 48 hours. He first noticed the pain in the hypogastric region, with variable intensity.
In the few hours before presentation, it escalated to become severe and diffuse throughout the abdomen, which prompted him to call the ambulance.
There is no associated history of fevers, vomiting, haematemesis, melena or diarrhoea. He has no known history of renal colic or cholelithiasis. He is not on any regular medication.
