What is the primary life threat you must suspect with abdominal pain plus hypotension?
QUESTION
What is the most appropriate initial approach to abdominal pain in the unstable patient?
QUESTION
Identify the likely cause: cirrhosis history plus hematemesis and hypotension.
Tap to flip before you grade
ANSWER
Esophageal variceal hemorrhage. Cirrhosis leads to portal hypertension and varices, which can rupture, causing massive upper GI bleeding and subsequent hemodynamic instability.