A middle-aged female patient has dialed 911 for an abdominal emergency. On scene, she informs you she has a bad gallbladder and it has been increasingly bothering her, thus she needs transport to the hospital for further care. Your assessment reveals tenderness and mild discomfort to the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. She also states that her right shoulder is aching. Given the patient's complaint, the EMT would recognize the shoulder pain as:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The shoulder pain is likely referred pain from the irritated gallbladder, which can cause pain to radiate to the right shoulder.

A Middle-Aged Female Patient Has Dialed 911 for an Abdominal