Abdominal pain and emergency department evaluation

Abdominal pain is the most common chief complaint of patients in emergency departments (EDs). Identifying and managing abdominal pain is a dilemma for several reasons. The definitive diagnosis is often obscure. The burden for establishing a diagnosis and the large differential of presenting symptoms often obligates the ED to repeat many of the tests or broaden the differential diagnosis of those presenting with persistent pain. The physician often faces the added difficulty of deciding when to declare the patient safe for discharge and conclude the work-up in a timely manner, despite a negative work-up or an unclear diagnosis. A methodological approach to abdominal pain can reduce or eliminate these problems.