-Actual_Problems_of_Emergency_Abdominal_Surgery-_ed._by_Dmitry_Victorovich_Garbuzenko

Chapter 6

Non-Surgical Causes of Acute Abdominal Pain

Ferdane Sapmaz, Sebahat Başyiğit,

Murat Başaran and Selim Demirci

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/64176

Abstract

Abdominal pain constitutes 5% of the causes of emergency admissions and is an

important part in the practice of emergency services in all centers. Patients may suffer

from acute surgical abdomen, acute abdomen with nonsurgical diseases or acute

problems of chronic diseases. Abdominal pain is sometimes associated with acute

trauma. Clinical assessment is a process where diagnosis and treatment must be done

quickly and must be well managed. We have tried here to discuss the non-surgical

causes of abdominal pain.

Keywords: Emergency Acute, Abdominal, Pain, Non-surgical, Acute abdomen

1. Introduction

Acute abdomen describes the sudden and severe starting of abdominal pain with unex‐
plained etiology [1]. Case management should be done fairly quickly. Nonsurgical diseases as
well as surgical pathologies could be the cause of acute abdomen.

Medical history and physical examination findings are very important for assessment.
Abdominal pain is the most important sign of acute abdomen but might not be observed in
each cases [2]. Especially the elderly and children should be considered for acute abdomen.

Abdominal pain is usually a feature, but a pain-free acute abdomen can occur, particularly in
older people, in children, in the immunocompromised, and in the women during their last
trimester of pregnancy. Acute abdominal complaints are common [3].