- 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 |