title: Triage and approach to the acute abdomen.
abstract: The presentation of a patient with acute abdominal pain often is both a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for the veterinary practitioner. Rapid physical examination and assessment of the patient's cardiovascular status are critical to initiating appropriate and often aggressive medical management as diagnostic tests are being performed. A number of diagnostic tests can be performed, including complete blood count, serum biochemistry profile, serum amylase and lipase, abdominal radiographs, abdominal ultrasound, abdominal paracentesis or diagnostic peritoneal lavage, cytology, and fluid analysis. In some cases, surgical exploration may be indicated, depending on each patient's clinical signs and response to therapy. Of the most important aspects of medical management of the patient with acute abdominal pain is to maintain oxygen delivery to tissues and to treat aggressively for pain or discomfort. The initial triage and approach to the patient with acute abdomen are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care Clinician, Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033, USA. emazzaferro@wrah.com
authors.forename: Elisa M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Mazzaferro
mesh_terms: D000006:Abdomen, Acute / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D000700:Analgesics; D000818:Animals; D000932:Antiemetics; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D004285:Dogs; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000662:veterinary*; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D014218:Triage
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000932:Antiemetics