U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Format

Send to:

Choose Destination

Acute abdomen

MedGen UID:
1674
•Concept ID:
C0000727
•
Sign or Symptom
Synonyms: Abdomen, Acute; Abdomens, Acute; Acute Abdomen; Acute Abdomens
SNOMED CT: Acute abdomen (9209005); Acute abdominal pain syndrome (9209005); Surgical abdomen (9209005)
 
HPO: HP:0033400

Definition

A sudden onset of abdominal pain with associated nausea or vomiting. The acute abdomen may be caused by an infection, inflammation, vascular occlusion, or obstruction. [from HPO]

Term Hierarchy

CClinical test,  RResearch test,  OOMIM,  GGeneReviews,  VClinVar  
  • CROGVAcute abdomen

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Acute appendicitis: modern understanding of pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management.
Bhangu A, Søreide K, Di Saverio S, Assarsson JH, Drake FT
Lancet 2015 Sep 26;386(10000):1278-1287. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(15)00275-5. PMID: 26460662
Treatment of acute abdominal pain in the emergency room: a systematic review of the literature.
Falch C, Vicente D, Häberle H, Kirschniak A, Müller S, Nissan A, Brücher BL
Eur J Pain 2014 Aug;18(7):902-13. Epub 2014 Jan 22 doi: 10.1002/j.1532-2149.2014.00456.x. PMID: 24449533
Diagnostic approach and management of acute abdominal pain.
Abdullah M, Firmansyah MA
Acta Med Indones 2012 Oct;44(4):344-50. PMID: 23314978

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Symptomatic ileal duplication.
Roussel E, Duhamel L, Tuech JJ
J Visc Surg 2024 Jun;161(3):224-225. Epub 2024 Feb 27 doi: 10.1016/j.jviscsurg.2024.02.004. PMID: 38418365
Acute abdomen in pediatric radiology.
Lochbühler N, Bölle P, Müller-Abt P
Rofo 2024 May;196(5):451-462. Epub 2023 Dec 22 doi: 10.1055/a-2193-0205. PMID: 38134901
Intraabdominal Infections in Older Adults.
Berlin A, Johanning JM
Clin Geriatr Med 2016 Aug;32(3):493-507. Epub 2016 Apr 18 doi: 10.1016/j.cger.2016.02.002. PMID: 27394019
Abdominal emergencies in pediatrics.
Coca Robinot D, Liébana de Rojas C, Aguirre Pascual E
Radiologia 2016 May;58 Suppl 2:80-91. Epub 2016 Mar 31 doi: 10.1016/j.rx.2016.02.003. PMID: 27041066
Laparoscopy in the acute abdomen.
Navez B, Navez J
Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol 2014 Feb;28(1):3-17. Epub 2013 Dec 4 doi: 10.1016/j.bpg.2013.11.006. PMID: 24485251

Diagnosis

Acute Abdomen in the Modern Era.
Rogers SO Jr, Kirton OC
N Engl J Med 2024 Jul 4;391(1):60-67. doi: 10.1056/NEJMra2304821. PMID: 38959482
The Practice Guidelines for Primary Care of Acute Abdomen 2015.
Mayumi T, Yoshida M, Tazuma S, Furukawa A, Nishii O, Shigematsu K, Azuhata T, Itakura A, Kamei S, Kondo H, Maeda S, Mihara H, Mizooka M, Nishidate T, Obara H, Sato N, Takayama Y, Tsujikawa T, Fujii T, Miyata T, Maruyama I, Honda H, Hirata K
Jpn J Radiol 2016 Jan;34(1):80-115. doi: 10.1007/s11604-015-0489-z. PMID: 26678269
Acute abdomen.
Mearelli F, Casarsa C, Biolo G
Eur J Intern Med 2014 Nov;25(9):e103-4. doi: 10.1016/j.ejim.2014.06.012. PMID: 25023921
Diagnostic approach and management of acute abdominal pain.
Abdullah M, Firmansyah MA
Acta Med Indones 2012 Oct;44(4):344-50. PMID: 23314978
Paediatric acute abdomen.
Hammond P, Curry J
Hosp Med 2004 Nov;65(11):686-9. doi: 10.12968/hosp.2004.65.11.17049. PMID: 15566062

Therapy

Comparing Outcomes of Appendectomy Versus Non-operative Antibiotic Therapy for Acute Appendicitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.
Zagales I, Sauder M, Selvakumar S, Spardy J, Santos RG, Cruz J, Bilski T, Elkbuli A
Am Surg 2023 Jun;89(6):2644-2655. Epub 2022 Jul 12 doi: 10.1177/00031348221114045. PMID: 35818927
Acute Appendicitis in Childhood and Adulthood.
Téoule P, Laffolie J, Rolle U, Reissfelder C
Dtsch Arztebl Int 2020 Nov 6;117(45):764-774. doi: 10.3238/arztebl.2020.0764. PMID: 33533331Free PMC Article
Acute abdomen.
Mearelli F, Casarsa C, Biolo G
Eur J Intern Med 2014 Nov;25(9):e103-4. doi: 10.1016/j.ejim.2014.06.012. PMID: 25023921
Paediatric emergencies.
McDougall RJ
Anaesthesia 2013 Jan;68 Suppl 1:61-71. doi: 10.1111/anae.12052. PMID: 23210557
Acute cholecystitis.
Sharp KW
Surg Clin North Am 1988 Apr;68(2):269-79. doi: 10.1016/s0039-6109(16)44477-4. PMID: 3279546

Prognosis

ACUTE ABDOMEN IN INTENSIVE CARE UNIT: ETIOLOGY, COMORBIDITY AND SEVERITY OF 1,523 PATIENTS.
Almeida Filho GF, Silva PPCE, Valverde Filho MT, Morais MCA, Chagas PBO, D'Oliveira RAC, Codes L, Bittencourt PL
Arq Bras Cir Dig 2023;36:e1778. Epub 2023 Dec 8 doi: 10.1590/0102-672020230060e1778. PMID: 38088724Free PMC Article
The Elderly Emergency Laparotomy Patient - More Than Just the Operation.
Fernando J, Loh SM
Ann Acad Med Singap 2019 Nov;48(11):382-385. PMID: 31960019
The Role of Laparoscopy in the Acute Neonatal Abdomen.
Burgmeier C, Schier F
Surg Innov 2016 Dec;23(6):635-639. Epub 2016 Apr 28 doi: 10.1177/1553350616646476. PMID: 27130647
Gastric distension.
Cheng CS, Hack J
Aust Fam Physician 2012 Aug;41(8):599-600. PMID: 23145401
Emergent right hemicolectomies.
Wyrzykowski AD, Feliciano DV, George TA, Tremblay LN, Rozycki GS, Murphy TW, Dente CJ
Am Surg 2005 Aug;71(8):653-6; discussion 656-7. PMID: 16217947

Clinical prediction guides

Acute abdomen in pediatric radiology.
Lochbühler N, Bölle P, Müller-Abt P
Rofo 2024 May;196(5):451-462. Epub 2023 Dec 22 doi: 10.1055/a-2193-0205. PMID: 38134901
Acute abdomen in patients with covid-19: an integrative review.
Lima MI, Fonseca Neto OCLD
Rev Col Bras Cir 2023;50:e20233576. Epub 2023 Aug 25 doi: 10.1590/0100-6991e-20233576-en. PMID: 37646728Free PMC Article
Acute abdominal pain in older adults: a clinical and diagnostic challenge.
Sangiorgio G, Biondi A, Basile F, Vacante M
Minerva Chir 2020 Jun;75(3):169-172. doi: 10.23736/S0026-4733.20.08266-8. PMID: 32550726
Acute appendicitis: modern understanding of pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management.
Bhangu A, Søreide K, Di Saverio S, Assarsson JH, Drake FT
Lancet 2015 Sep 26;386(10000):1278-1287. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(15)00275-5. PMID: 26460662
Gallbladder volvulus.
Arslan ED, Hakbilir O, Uyanik B, Oztürk B, Kaya E, Oztürk D
J Pak Med Assoc 2012 Sep;62(9):965-6. PMID: 23139986

Recent systematic reviews

Comparing Outcomes of Appendectomy Versus Non-operative Antibiotic Therapy for Acute Appendicitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.
Zagales I, Sauder M, Selvakumar S, Spardy J, Santos RG, Cruz J, Bilski T, Elkbuli A
Am Surg 2023 Jun;89(6):2644-2655. Epub 2022 Jul 12 doi: 10.1177/00031348221114045. PMID: 35818927
Volvulus of the Transverse Colon.
Huerta S, Pickett ML, Mottershaw AM, Gupta P, Pham T
Am Surg 2023 May;89(5):1930-1943. Epub 2021 Aug 30 doi: 10.1177/00031348211041564. PMID: 34461758
Acute abdomen in multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children: A systematic review.
Rouva G, Vergadi E, Galanakis E
Acta Paediatr 2022 Mar;111(3):467-472. Epub 2021 Dec 3 doi: 10.1111/apa.16178. PMID: 34751972
Acute abdominal pain in older adults: a clinical and diagnostic challenge.
Sangiorgio G, Biondi A, Basile F, Vacante M
Minerva Chir 2020 Jun;75(3):169-172. doi: 10.23736/S0026-4733.20.08266-8. PMID: 32550726
Treatment of acute abdominal pain in the emergency room: a systematic review of the literature.
Falch C, Vicente D, Häberle H, Kirschniak A, Müller S, Nissan A, Brücher BL
Eur J Pain 2014 Aug;18(7):902-13. Epub 2014 Jan 22 doi: 10.1002/j.1532-2149.2014.00456.x. PMID: 24449533

Supplemental Content

Table of contents

    Clinical resources

    Practice guidelines

    • PubMed
      See practice and clinical guidelines in PubMed. The search results may include broader topics and may not capture all published guidelines. See the FAQ for details.
    • Bookshelf
      See practice and clinical guidelines in NCBI Bookshelf. The search results may include broader topics and may not capture all published guidelines. See the FAQ for details.

    Consumer resources

    Reviews

    Related information

    • MeSH
      Related Medical Subject Headings
    • PMC Articles
      Related information in PubMed Central Links
    • PubMed
      Related literature resources in PubMed

    Recent activity

    Clear Turn Off Turn On

    Your browsing activity is empty.

    Activity recording is turned off.

    Turn recording back on

    See more...