Abdominal Pain in the Emergency Department: Missed Diagnoses.

Maglin Halsey-Nichols, Nicole McCoin

Journal: Emergency medicine clinics of North America 2021;39(4):703-717

PMID: 34600632

Full Text on Elsevier Science View on PubMed

Abstract

Abdominal pain is the most common chief complaint in the Emergency Department. Abdominal pain is caused by a variety of gastrointestinal and nongastrointestinal disorders. Some frequently missed conditions include biliary pathology, appendicitis, diverticulitis, and urogenital pathology. The Emergency Medicine clinician must consider all aspects of the patient's presentation including history, physical examination, laboratory testing, and imaging. If no diagnosis is identified, close reassessment of pain, vital signs, and physical examination are necessary to ensure safe discharge. Strict verbal and written return precautions should be provided to the patient.

Address: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Houpt Building (Physician Office Building) Suite 1116, 170 Manning Drive- CB-7594, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7594, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].; Department of Emergency Medicine, Ochsner Medical Center, 1514 Jefferson Highway, New Orleans, LA 70121, USA.

DOI: 10.1016/j.emc.2021.07.005

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MeSH Terms: Abdominal Pain, Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal, Appendicitis, Cholecystitis, Diabetic Ketoacidosis, Emergency Service, Hospital, Female, Humans, Male, Mesenteric Ischemia, Missed Diagnosis, Neoplasms, Nephrolithiasis, Ovarian Torsion, Patient Discharge, Respiratory Tract Diseases, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Spermatic Cord Torsion, Urinary Tract Infections