Abdominal Pain: A High-Risk Chief Complaint
Source: Abdominal Pain presentation by Daniel Stone, MD
Abdominal Pain in Acute Care: Identifying Life-Threatening Pathology
Abdominal pain is one of the most diagnostically challenging complaints in emergency medicine. While many cases are benign, others represent surgical or medical emergencies with high morbidity and mortality.
This session outlines a systematic approach to evaluating abdominal pain while avoiding common diagnostic traps.
History and Physical Exam Matter
Careful attention to onset, progression, associated symptoms, and vital signs provides essential clues. The abdominal exam remains a powerful diagnostic tool when performed thoroughly and thoughtfully.
Recognizing Peritonitis
Peritonitis is a clinical diagnosis that demands urgent action. This presentation reviews classic signs such as rebound tenderness, guarding, rigidity, and pain with movement, emphasizing when immediate imaging or surgical consultation is warranted.
Quadrant-Based Differentials
Understanding how pain location correlates with underlying pathology helps guide focused evaluation and imaging decisions. The session reviews common and high-risk diagnoses by abdominal region.
Labs and Imaging
Laboratory studies help risk stratify patients but should never replace clinical judgment. Imaging choices, including ultrasound and CT, are discussed in the context of stability, age, and suspected pathology.
A key takeaway is avoiding premature diagnostic closure, particularly labeling pain as “gastritis” before dangerous causes are excluded.