title: An update on common gastrointestinal emergencies.
abstract: The evaluation of the child with acute abdominal pain often poses as a diagnostic challenge due to the wide range of diagnoses. Surgical emergencies need to be rapidly identified and managed appropriately to minimize morbidity and mortality. Presenting symptoms, clinical examination, and laboratory findings can guide selection of diagnostic imaging. This article reviews common surgical causes of abdominal pain in children.
authors.affiliation: Division of Emergency Medicine, Rady Children's Hospital, University of California San Diego, 3020 Children's Way, MC 5075, San Diego, CA 92123, USA. sshah@rchsd.org
authors.forename: Seema
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shah
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004630:Emergencies; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D006627:Hirschsprung Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007443:Intussusception / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D046248:Pyloric Stenosis, Hypertrophic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D011859:Radiography; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: Appendicitis; Hirschsprung disease; Intussusception; Malrotation; Pyloric stenosis