title: [When should a patient with abdominal pain be referred to the emergency ward?].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Service de chirurgie viscérale, Département de chirurgie, HUG, 1211 Genève 14. wassila.oulhaci@hcuge.ch
authors.forename: Wassila Oulhaci
authors.initials: WO
authors.lastname: de Saussure
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Andereggen
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sarasin
mesh_terms: 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