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Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Enema of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Patients with Severe Acute Pancreatitis
Published on: January 27, 2023
Approach to acute abdominal pain
Robert McNamara1, Anthony J Dean
1Department of Emergency Medicine, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA. MCNAMAR@tuhs.temple.edu
Diagnosing acute abdominal pain in the emergency department is complex. This review offers clinical tools for accurate diagnosis and management of emergency department patients with abdominal pain.
Area of Science:
- Emergency Medicine
- Clinical Diagnosis
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Acute abdominal pain evaluation in emergency departments presents diagnostic challenges.
- Clinical findings can be obscured, leading to misdiagnosis and adverse outcomes.
- Prioritizing life-threatening conditions is crucial for timely management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To equip clinicians with tools for evaluating emergency department patients with acute abdominal pain.
- To review the anatomic and physiological basis of abdominal pain.
- To guide the approach to unstable patients with abdominal pain.
Main Methods:
- Review of the anatomic and physiological basis of abdominal pain.
- Analysis of key components of patient history.
- Emphasis on physical examination techniques.
- Discussion of the approach to unstable patients.
Main Results:
- Provides a framework for understanding abdominal pain origins.
- Highlights critical elements of history taking and physical examination.
- Offers strategies for managing unstable patients.
Conclusions:
- Effective evaluation requires understanding pain's basis and thorough clinical assessment.
- Prioritizing urgent conditions improves patient outcomes.
- This review serves as a clinical guide for emergency department abdominal pain management.
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