ABSTRACT
Abdominal pain is the principal symptom of most acute abdominal diseases. In particular, the acute onset of severe abdominal pain in a patient who was previously well suggests a disease of surgical importance, especially if the pain has persisted for six hours or more. The term ‘‘acute abdomen’’ is often applied to such cases; however, this term should not be equated with the need for operation. It does, however, necessitate ‘‘a serious and thorough attempt at diagnosis’’ (1). The onset of severe abdominal pain is caused by ischemia, inflammation of an abdominal organ or tissue, or acute distention of a hollow smooth muscle-lined structure such as the ureter or intestine or by stretching of the peritoneum or the capsule of a solid organ.
