Rev Esp Enferm Dig
-
Comparative Study
Validity of tests performed to diagnose acute abdominal pain in patients admitted at an emergency department.
To determine the real importance of anamnesis, physical examination, and various tests in the assessment of acute abdominal pain. ⋯ a) Anamnesis and physical examination offer limited accuracy when assessing acute abdomen; b) ultrasound scans offer a low diagnostic agreement index for appendicitis; and c) laparoscopy may prove useful for diagnosis, and is also a possible treatment for acute abdominal pain despite its low diagnostic efficiency.