Abdominal examination criterion for transport?

• A. Diffuse abdominal tenderness
• B. No abdominal tenderness
• C. Localised tenderness
• D. Mild tenderness

Answer: (A)

In abdominal assessment, diffuse tenderness signals a high concern for possible significant intra-abdominal injury or peritoneal irritation. When pain is spread across the entire abdomen, it suggests that the issue isn’t localized to one spot and could involve internal bleeding, organ injury, or peritonitis, all of which require urgent hospital evaluation. That urgency is why diffuse abdominal tenderness is the best trigger for transport to the ED.

No abdominal tenderness would be reassuring and might support on-scene management or discharge if other criteria are met. Localized tenderness points to a more limited problem and may be managed differently, depending on mechanism and overall condition. Mild tenderness is less specific and may not alone mandate transport. The key idea is that generalized, diffuse tenderness raises the level of concern enough to justify transport for definitive care.