Acute abdomen

Abstract

An acute abdomen is usually defined as a rapid onset of abdominal pain that requires a prompt evaluation. Although the spectrum of possible causes is wide, the only initial issue that needs to be addressed is whether the patient has a medical or a surgical condition. In most, this distinction can be made with history, physical examination, and basic investigations, but there are some cases where surgery itself is the diagnostic tool. © 2010 Springer-Verlag London.