ABSTRACT
According to the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics, in 1996, abdominal pain was listed as the single most frequently mentioned complaint for patients seen in the emergency department.1 Providers compare the painful abdomen to the dark side of the moon: a nebulous and enigmatic terrain.2 While definitive care can only be accomplished in the hospital by surgeons and other specialists, the prehospital care provider plays a critical role in assessing and transporting patients to the appropriate facility.
