emDocs - December 23, 2019 - Authors: Rebecca O’Neill and Lane Thaut
Reviewed by: Erica Simon, Alex Koyfman and Brit Long
"...Key Points:
-The elderly, children, and immunosuppressed may have perforated viscus with only mild abdominal tenderness to palpation on exam.
-When the anatomy of the gastrointestinal tract has been altered, pneumoperitoneum should always be on your differential.
-The yield of an upright chest x-ray to detect free air may be improved by having the patient sit fully upright or in a left lateral decubitus position for 10 to 20 minutes (if possible) prior to imaging."