Which patient complaint may indicate the presence of air in the peritoneal cavity?

Shoulder pain can indicate the presence of air in the peritoneal cavity, particularly when air irritates the diaphragm. This phenomenon is known as referred pain, where discomfort is felt in a different area of the body than where the issue originates. The diaphragm and shoulder are innervated by the same nerve (the phrenic nerve), which can lead to the sensation of pain being felt in the shoulder when there is an underlying abdominal issue such as pneumoperitoneum (the presence of air in the abdominal cavity).

In contrast, while scrotal edema, swelling in the neck, and a snap, crackle, pop sensation when palpating the abdomen may indicate other medical issues, they do not specifically correlate with the presence of air in the peritoneal cavity. Scrotal edema can be associated with various conditions like infections or trauma, swelling in the neck might relate to respiratory or vascular issues, and the popping sensation during abdominal palpation can arise from the presence of fluid or gas but is not directly indicative of air in the peritoneum.