A patient presents to the emergency department with complaints of vomiting and abdominal pain. You note that the emesis contains bile. On physical examination, there is diffuse tenderness, abdominal distension, and rushing, high-pitched bowel sounds. Which of the following diagnoses would be most likely?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Small bowel obstruction is most likely given the symptoms of vomiting (especially with bile, indicating obstruction distal to the stomach), abdominal pain, distension, and high-pitched bowel sounds, which are classic signs of small bowel obstruction.

A Patient Presents to the Emergency Department with Complaints of Vomiting