Diffuse Acute Abdominal Pain (<72 hours) - Differential Diagnostic Algorithm

Look for surgical abdomen

Upper quadrant: R/O cardiac, pulmonary, renal, musculoskeletal causes

Lower quadrant: R/O genitourinary causes

Peritonitic 

 • Bowel Obstruction

 • Viscus Perforation

 • Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm

 • Pancreatitis (1,2)

Non-Peritonitic

 • Gastroenteritis

 • Constipation

 • Mesenteric ischemia 

 • Peptic ulcer disease

 • Metabolic disease (e.g., Diabetic Ketoacidosis)

 • Sickle cell anemia 

 • Musculoskeletal

 • Trauma

 • Irritable bowel syndrome



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