Guidelines for rapid assessment of abdominal pain indicative of acute surgical abdomen.

Abdominal pain is one of the most frequently described reasons for ambulatory visits. The complaint of abdominal pain requires an orderly and thorough approach because even mild or non-specific pain can denote a potentially life-threatening intra-abdominal pathology. The majority of patients with acute abdomen can be diagnosed by a direct and concise history, and a thorough physical examination supplemented by simple laboratory and radiologic testing. This article includes key history, physical and clinical indicators that should suggest to the clinician the need for immediate surgical intervention. When an acute abdomen is suspected, the goal of patient management is to rapidly and accurately diagnose the patient preoperatively, and to provide a timely referral to the appropriate surgeon or gynecologist.