Context

Patients with acute abdominal pain are a common reason for attendance at the emergency department (ED) and account for approximately 10% of all attendances [1].

Patients can be difficult to assess and make an accurate diagnosis of in the ED.

It is important that we have strategies to identify those patients who require admission, and recognise those patients that need resuscitation.

This session covers the generic assessment and management of a patient with abdominal pain without shock. The specific management of abdominal conditions, such as appendicitis, will be covered in additional sessions.

Learning bite

Abdominal pain is the most common surgical emergency to present to the ED.