Acute abdominal pain-changes in the way we assess it over a decade

Acute abdominal pain accounts for 5-10% of all emergency department visits. Rapid and accurate diagnosis is critical to ensure optimal outcomes. In the last decade, increased use of CT scans and the introduction of surgical short stay units has changed the way this group of patients is managed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of these changes on patient management.

A retrospective clinical study was undertaken including all patients admitted with abdominal pain under general surgery in the years 2004, 2009 and 2014. Two hundred from each of the three years were randomly selected and their care was reviewed.

During the study period, more patients were admitted under general surgery, from 1,462 in 2004 to 2,737 in 2014 (P=0.001). There was an increase in the proportion of patients admitted with non-surgical abdominal pain (25% in 2004 vs 34% in 2014, P=0.035). More computed tomography (CT) scans were performed (26.0% in 2004 vs 45.0% in 2014, P=0.001).

More patients were admitted under general surgery with abdominal pain and a greater proportion of these patients were admitted with non-surgical problems. Use of CT scans increased during the study period.