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Investigation of abdominal pain

  • Emergency admissions account for 50% of general surgical work load
  • 50% of emergency admissions are for abdominal pain

Conditions presenting with acute abdominal pain

Condition Percentage
Non-specific abdominal pain 35
Acute appendicitis 17
Intestinal obstruction 15
Urological causes 6
Gallstone disease 5
Colonic diverticular disease 4
Abdominal trauma 3
Abdominal malignancy 3
Perforated peptic ulcer 3
Pancreatitis 2
Ruptured AAA <1
Inflammatory bowel disease <1
Gastroenteritis <1
Mesenteric ischaemia <1

Causes of non-specific abdominal pain

  • Viral infections
  • Bacterial gastroenteritis
  • Worm infestations
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Gynaecological causes
  • Psychosomatic pain
  • Abdominal wall pain
    • Iatrogenic peripheral nerve injuries
    • Hernia
    • Myofascial pain syndrome
    • Rib tip syndrome
    • Nerve root pain
    • Rectus sheath haematoma

Bibliography

Mathews P J,  Aziz Q.  Functional abdominal pain. Postgrad Med J 2005;   81:  448-455.

Vincent K.  Chronic pelvic pain in women.  Postgrad Med J 2009;  85:  24-29

 

 
 

Last updated: 03 January 2010

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