[Abdominal pain]

Abstract

The doctor on duty conducting home visits is frequently asked to care for patients with non-traumatic severe abdominal pain. For this reason, visiting doctors should be able to recognize tell-tale alarm signs, evaluate ailments that call for surgical referral to--particularly those that require emergency surgery--and, if necessary, perform simple paraclinical exams at the patient's bedside. In the case of intense abdominal pain requiring a rapid and effective "analgesia", the doctor should be able to administer an opiate, without of the surgical unit impairing the judgement. When hospitalisation or referral for surgery is not necessary, a re-evaluation at 12 to 36 hours later should be offered.