title: Abdominal pain: an approach to a challenging diagnosis.
abstract: Acute abdominal pain represents the cardinal symptom of a large number of intra-abdominal pathologies. Because of multiple organ systems, varied pathology from life threatening to benign, and differences in presentation related to sex and age, identifying a final diagnosis is a challenge. The clinician's goal for patients with acute abdominal pain is to rapidly identify whether the underlying cause requires an urgent or immediate surgical intervention. By developing a systematic approach to evaluating patients with abdominal pain, clinicians can generate a differential diagnosis to ensure appropriate treatment and improved patient outcomes. The purpose of this article is to provide clinicians with a framework for evaluating the complaint of acute abdominal pain and recognizing patients who require expedited evaluation.
authors: Helen F. Brown is Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Emergency Department, Anne Arundel Medical Center, Annapolis, MD 21401 (helen0751@aol.com). Lynn Kelso is Assistant Professor, Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Kentucky College of Nursing, Lexington.
authors: Helen F
authors: HF
authors: Brown
authors: Lynn
authors: L
authors: Kelso
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking