title: Acute abdominal pain.
abstract: Acute abdominal pain is a complaint seen commonly in the outpatient setting that has a broad and often confusing differential diagnosis. Although many presentations can be managed on an outpatient basis, several gastrointestinal causes of abdominal pain demand thoughtful consideration with subsequent referral to a higher level of care for appropriate diagnosis and treatment. To achieve this goal, outpatient physicians must have an understanding of the mechanisms of abdominal pain, as well as the common gastrointestinal causes that carry potentially higher morbidity and mortality.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland Medical Center, and Veterans Affairs, Maryland Health Care System, 10 North Greene Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. mflasar@medicine.umaryland.edu
authors.forename: Mark H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Flasar
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cross
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Goldberg
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D000208:Acute Disease; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004066:Digestive System Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking; D010808:Physical Examination; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*