[Guideline 'Diagnostics in acute abdominal pain in adults']

Abstract

The interdisciplinary, evidence-based guideline 'Diagnostics in acute abdominal pain in adults' describes the optimal in-hospital diagnostic work-up of patients with acute abdominal pain. Amongst other recommendations, the guideline advises the use of C-reactive protein and white blood cell count to differentiate urgent from non-urgent causes in an adult with acute abdominal pain presenting at the Emergency Department. If there is clinical suspicion of an urgent condition the guideline advises that additional imaging be performed. The guideline states that conventional imaging (plain abdominal - or chest x-ray) is unnecessary as this is of no benefit. Additionally the guideline recommends that patients with acute abdominal pain and severe sepsis or septic shock are started on antibiotic treatment within an hour at the Emergency Department and not to wait for the diagnostic procedures to be completed.