cectomy specimens should routinely be examined histologically [32]. With careful patient
selection, emergency laparotomy confers worthwhile palliation [30, 31, 33]. However, some
patients (and their families) refuse surgery in desperate situations (such as bowel perforation)
as they want an end to the suffering [31, 33].
6. Conclusions
A precise history of the acute abdomen may indicate the pathology, and physical examination
may indicate where the pathology is. However, the ability to identify the presence of peritoneal
inflammation probably has the greatest influence on the final surgical decision. The best policy
is early surgery when there is clinical suspicion of the acute abdomen if diagnostic tools are
not readily available, but ‘active observation’ is effective and safe in early appendicitis. Regular
re-assessment of patients and making use of the investigative options available will meet the
standard of care expected by patients with acute abdominal pain.
Conflict of interest: The author declares that there is no conflict of interest.
Contributorship: E.P. Weledji is the sole author of this article.
Funding acknowledgement: This research received no specific grant from any funding agency
in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
Author details
Elroy Patrick Weledji
Address all correspondence to: [email protected]
Department of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Cameroon, West Africa
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http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/9