Audit of abdominal pain in general practice

An audit of 150 consecutive cases of abdominal pain presenting to an urban teaching practice between October 1983 and May 1984 was performed. The median duration of pain prior to presentation was two days. Females predominated in all age groups.Eighty-nine per cent of these patients were managed entirely in the practice and of these, 52 per cent were managed with reassurance and advice alone, while 48 per cent also received a prescription. Only 15 per cent of patients were investigated in any way by the practice. Of the 17 patients (11 per cent) referred, nine were referred as emergencies and eight were admitted that day. However, there were only three true surgical emergencies in the entire series (one appendicitis, one intussusception and one fulminating pancreatitis).