NREMT Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Cognitive ExamMedical EmergenciesEasy
A 45-year-old female complains of sudden onset of severe, cramping abdominal pain that started suddenly after eating a fatty meal. She states the pain is located in the right upper quadrant and radiates to her right shoulder. She denies fever or vomiting. What is the most likely cause of her symptoms?
- AKidney stones
- BGastroenteritis
- CCholecystitis
- DAppendicitis
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Cholecystitis
The patient's symptoms—sudden, severe, cramping right upper quadrant pain radiating to the right shoulder, particularly after a fatty meal—are classic for cholecystitis, an inflammation of the gallbladder.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Kidney stone pain is usually flank pain, radiating to the groin, and described as colicky, not typically triggered by meals.
- B. Gastroenteritis typically involves diffuse abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, which are not the primary complaints here.
- D. Appendicitis typically presents with pain starting periumbilically and migrating to the right lower quadrant.
Cholecystitis
Inflammation of the gallbladder, often caused by gallstones blocking the cystic duct, commonly triggered by fatty meals.
- Right upper quadrant pain
- Often radiates to right shoulder/back
- Triggered by fatty foods
- Nausea and vomiting may be present
Memory trick: Fatty Food, Gallbladder Mood