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Acute Abdominal Pain — General Approach
urgentsurgical
Description
Systematic approach to evaluating acute abdominal pain in adults. Requires rapid assessment to identify life-threatening conditions requiring urgent intervention while systematically working through the differential diagnosis.
Key Features
- Systematic approach: history → exam → investigations → differential
- Identify life-threatening causes first (AAA, mesenteric ischemia, perforation)
- Pain location guides differential diagnosis
- Red flags require urgent action
- Early analgesia does NOT mask diagnosis
Diagnostic Criteria
- Systematic Approach to Acute Abdominal Pain:
- 1. Stabilize: ABCs, IV access, analgesia
- 2. Identify life-threatening causes requiring immediate intervention
- 3. Focused history and examination
- 4. Targeted investigations based on clinical picture
- 5. Formulate differential diagnosis
- 6. Definitive management or surgical consultation
Red Flags
- • Abnormal vital signs
- • Peritoneal signs
- • Pain out of proportion to exam
- • GI bleeding
- • Syncope
- • Obstipation
- • Fever with rigidity
Differential Clues
Pain location guides differentialOnset speed suggests category (sudden=vascular, gradual=inflammatory)Associated symptoms narrow diagnosis
Sources: DynaMed. Acute Abdominal Pain in Adults — Approach to the Patient. EBSCO Information Services.