abdominal guarding

Etiology

• appendicitis
• diverticulitis
• pancreatitis
• abdominal trauma
  • hepatic vontusion, hepatic laceration
  • splenic contusion, splenic laceration
  • pneumoperitoneum secondary to abdominal trauma
• pelvic inflammatory disease
• ectopic pregnancy
• septic miscarriage (see miscarriage)
• ovarian cyst
• prostatitis
• bowel obstruction
• ileus
• pneumonia
• nephrolithiasis
• gastrointestinal perforation
• abdominal aortic aneurysm
• bacterial peritonitis
• mesenteric ischemia
• esophagitis
• pyelonephritis
• Herpes zoster
• abdominal abscess
• incarcerated hernia
• abdominal migraine
• intussusception
• volvulus
• anxiety
• malingering

Pathology

• muscle spasm

Clinical manifestations

• a tensing of abdminal wall muscles +/- posturing in anticipation of abdominal pain on palpation

Laboratory

• complete blood count (CBC)
• basic metabolic panel
• liver function tests
• serum amylase, serum lipase
• urinalysis
• serum beta-chorionic gonadotropin
• cervical culture
• prostate-specific antigen

Radiology

• abdominal CT
• abdominal ultrasound

Management

• nothing by mouth until diagnosis is made
• see abdominal pain

More general terms

• sign/symptom