[Differential abdominal pain diagnosis in gynecologic and obstetric general practice]
1Frauenklinik, Spital Zollikerberg, Zollikerberg.
Abstract:
Abdominal pains are frequent complaints in specialist and GP practices and may be evidence of an acute or chronic condition. The complexity and diversity of possible causes demand an interdisciplinary approach, where appropriate, but never a polypharmaceutical approach. If the aetiology of an acute pain cannot be established within less than six to eight hours in a GP practice, the patient should be referred to an interdisciplinary emergency unit with a request to break down the differential diagnosis and push ahead with the diagnostic procedure. Gynaecology departments are confronted with some rare diagnoses which, if made promptly, will prove to be of crucial prognostic significance. Chronic abdominal pains call for interdisciplinary problem-solving.
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