ABSTRACT
This chapter presents information or guidance regarding surgery for use by medical, scientific or health-care professionals. The pathophysiology of abdominal pain may be divided into parietal, visceral and referred. Parietal or somatic pain is well localised and is caused by local inflammation and is a consequence of infection, irritation etc. Visceral pain is usually due to distension of a viscus and is poorly localised. Upper abdominal pain usually reflects stomach, duodenal, gallbladder, liver or pancreas pathology; central abdominal pain reflects those areas supplied by the superior mesenteric artery i.e. small bowel, appendix and proximal colon; lower abdominal pain reflects pathology in the lower colon and genito-urinary tract. Referred pain is usually secondary to cardiopulmonary conditions but may also be secondary to abdominal wall problems such as herpes zoster or muscle haematoma. Weight loss is due to either inadequate intake, malabsorption, reduced anabolism, increased catabolism or a combination.
