You arrive on the scene to find an approximately 60-year-old male patient writhing on the floor.He is complaining of a tearing pain radiating to his lower back.He has absent femoral pulses and has a pulsatile mass just superior to his umbilicus.You suspect which of the following conditions?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The presence of tearing pain radiating to the lower back, absent femoral pulses, and a pulsatile mass just superior to the umbilicus are indicative of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) that has ruptured or is in danger of rupturing. This is a medical emergency that requires immediate transport to a hospital for surgical intervention. Myocardial infarction would present with chest pain, not tearing pain in the back. Acute pancreatitis and ruptured appendix would not cause absent femoral pulses or a pulsatile mass in the abdomen.

You Arrive on the Scene to Find an Approximately 60-Year-Old