Approach to the Patient with Constipation

The term “acute abdomen” generally refers to the sudden onset of pain that localizes to the abdomen. Differential diagnoses for the acute abdomen and acute abdominal pain are broad, ranging from benign to life-threatening conditions. It is critical to efficiently and accurately identify those patients who require an expedited evaluation or urgent management. In order to do so, one must have a systematic approach to the assessment of these patients. This chapter reviews the pathophysiologic mechanisms that determine how abdominal pain is sensed, provides a framework for understanding acute abdominal pain, and highlights special populations in whom the presentation of acute abdominal processes may be atypical.