Summary
The results of a prospective study show the most common causes of acute abdominal pain, and the diagnostic role of sonography in such cases is evaluated. Sonography performs three significant functions: visualization of pathologically changed organs, identification of healthy organs, and ultrasound-guided puncture of intraabdominal collections of fluid. Affections in the right upper quadrant can be best diagnosed sonographically. Edematous pancreatitis can be easily identified; interpretation is difficult, however, in the presence of necrosis and abscesses. Therefore, computed tomography is also necessary. Sonography can differentiate between a mechanical and a paralytic ileus, but radiological examination is still necessary. In inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, sonography may be helpful for diagnosis. An aortic aneurysm can be easily identified, whereas mesenteric infarction cannot. In the future, however, the use of a duplex scan may help in recognizing this condition. Affections of the abdominal wall can be visualized well by using a high-frequency transducer.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aufschnaiter M, Bodner E (1983) Real-Time-Sonographie bei akutem Abdomen. Aktuel Chir 18: 30–38
Austin H (1983) Acute right upper quadrant abdominal pain: ultrasound approach. J Clin Ultrasound 11: 187–192
Braun U, Stellamor K, Leitner H (1984) Sonographie in der Akutdiagnostik des Abdomens. Ultraschall 5: 160–163
Brewer R, Golden G, Hitch D, Rudolf L, Wangensteen S (1976) Abdominal pain: an analysis of 1,000 consecutive cases in a University Hospital Emergency Room. Am J Surg 131: 219–223
Hölscher AH (1985) Ultraschalldiagnostik des akuten, nichttraumatisierten Abdomens. Chir Praxis 34: 29–39
Jager KA, Fortner G, Thiele B, Strandness D (1984) Noninvasive diagnosis of intestinal angina. J Clin Ultrasound 12: 588
Lutz H (1987) Ultraschalldiagnostik bei akutem Abdomen. Ultraschall Klin Praxis 2: 19–25
Meiser G (1987) Gastrointestinale Ultraschalldiagnostik. I. Die chirurgische Bedeutung faβbarer Befunde. Ultraschall Klin Praxis 2: 95–103
Meiser G (1987) Gastrointestinale Ultraschalldiagnostik. II. Erkrankungen des Dünn- und Dickdarmes einschlieβlich der Appendix. Ultraschall Klin Praxis 2: 137–147
Meiser G, Meissner K (1983) Die sonographische Objektivierung des frühen, radiologisch negativen Darmverschlusses. Langenbecks Arch Chir 360: 279
Meiser G, Meissner K, Sattleger P (1987) Akute entzündliche Dickdarmerkrankungen: sonographische Befunde und Therapiekonzepte. Aktuel Chir 22: 96–102
Peiper H-J, Schmid A, Steffens H, Tiling T (1987) Ultraschalldiagnostik beim akuten Abdomen und stumpfem Bauchtrauma. Chirurg 58: 189–198
Säuberli H, Fehr H (1981) Akutes Abdomen — klinische oder medizinaltechnische Knacknuβ? Schweiz Med Wochenschr 111: 767–768
Sanders R (1980) The significance of sonographic gallbladder wall thickening. J Clin Ultrasound 8: 143–146
Schönleben K (1986) Nicht-abdominell bedingte Bauchschmerzen. Langenbecks Arch Chir (Kongressber) 360: 659–664
Seitz K, Reising K (1982) Sonographischer Nachweis freier Luft in der Bauchhöhle. Ultraschall 3: 4–6
Simeone J, Novelline R, Ferrucci J Jr, DeLuca S, McCabe C, Meller P, Hall D, Wittenberg J, Butch R, Papanicolaou N, Johnson R (1985) Comparison of sonography and plain films in evaluation of the acute abdomen. AJR 144: 49–52
Trede M, Gai H (1986) Welche akuten Baucherkrankungen müssen dringlich operiert werden? Langenbecks Arch Chir (Kongressber) 369: 651–657
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gai, H. Acute abdominal pain. Surg Endosc 2, 28–35 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00591395
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00591395