[When should a patient with abdominal pain be referred to the emergency ward?].
When should a patient with abdominal pain be referred to the emergency ward? The following goals must be achieved upon managing patients with acute abdominal pain: 1) identify vital emergency situations; 2) detect surgical conditions that require emergency referral without further diagnostic procedures; 3) in "non surgical acute abdomen patients" perform appropriate diagnostic procedures, or in selected cases delay tests and reevaluate the patient after an observation period, after which a referral decision is made. Clues from the history and physical examination are critical to perform this evaluation. A good knowledge of the most frequent acute abdominal conditions, and identifying potential severity criteria allow an appropriate management and decision about emergency referral.
de Saussure
Wassila Oulhaci
WO
Service de chirurgie viscérale, Département de chirurgie, HUG, 1211 Genève 14. wassila.oulhaci@hcuge.ch
Andereggen
Elisabeth
E
Sarasin
François
F
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D000465:Algorithms; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D010808:Physical Examination; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000592:standards*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index