A 62-year-old man presents to the emergency department with acute pain in the left lower abdomen and profuse rectal bleeding. These symptoms started 3 hours ago. The patient has chronic constipation and bloating, for which he takes lactulose. His family history is negative for gastrointestinal disorders. His temperature is 38.2°C (100.8°F), blood pressure is 90/60 mm Hg, and pulse is 110/min. On physical examination, the patient appears drowsy, and there is tenderness with guarding in the left lower abdominal quadrant. Flexible sigmoidoscopy shows multiple, scattered diverticula with acute mucosal inflammation in the sigmoid colon. Which of the following is the best initial treatment for this patient?
AElective colectomy
BDietary modification and antibiotics
CVolume replacement, analgesia, intravenous antibiotics, and endoscopic hemostasis
DVolume replacement, analgesia, intravenous antibiotics, and surgical hemostasis
EReassurance and no treatment is required
A 26-year-old white man comes to the physician because of increasing generalized fatigue for 6 months. He has been unable to work out at the gym during this period. He has also had cramping lower abdominal pain and diarrhea for the past 5 weeks that is occasionally bloody. His father was diagnosed with colon cancer at the age of 65. He has smoked half a pack of cigarettes daily for the past 10 years. He drinks 1–2 beers on social occasions. His temperature is 37.3°C (99.1°F), pulse is 88/min, and blood pressure is 116/74 mm Hg. Physical examination shows dry mucous membranes. The abdomen is soft and nondistended with slight tenderness to palpation over the lower quadrants bilaterally. Rectal examination shows stool mixed with blood. His hemoglobin concentration is 13.5 g/dL, leukocyte count is 7,500/mm3, and platelet count is 480,000/mm3. Urinalysis is within normal limits. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?
AD-xylose absorption test
BCT scan of the abdomen and pelvis with contrast
CCapsule endoscopy
DColonoscopy
EFlexible sigmoidoscopy
A 64-year-old woman has progressively worsening abdominal pain 5 hours after an open valve replacement with cardiopulmonary bypass. The pain is crampy and associated with an urge to defecate. The patient reports having had 2 bloody bowel movements in the last hour. Her operation was complicated by significant intraoperative blood loss, which prolonged the operation and necessitated 2 transfusions of red blood cells. She has hypercholesterolemia and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The patient received prophylactic perioperative antibiotics and opioid pain management during recovery. Her temperature is 37.9°C (98.9°F), pulse is 95/min, and blood pressure is 115/69 mm Hg. Examination shows a soft abdomen with mild tenderness to palpation in the left quadrants but no rebound tenderness or guarding. Bowel sounds are decreased. Rectal examination shows blood on the examining finger. Which of the following is the most likely underlying cause of this patient's symptoms?
AEmbolization of superior mesenteric artery
BAtherosclerotic narrowing of the intestinal vessels
CSmall outpouchings in the sigmoid wall
DInfection with Clostridioides difficile
EDecreased blood flow to the splenic flexure
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