Core Questions

1. What are risk factors for serious underlying causes of abdominal pain? (Box 24.1) 
2. Explain key symptoms and signs to look for in the evaluation of the patient with abdominal pain. 
3. What diagnoses are associated with different patterns of abdominal pain? (Fig 24.1) 
4. List 5 critical and 5 emergent causes of abdominal pain (Table 24.1, 24.2) 
5. Explain an approach to ancillary testing in abdominal pain. 
6. Outline a diagnostic algorithm for patients with abdominal pain (Fig 24.4) 
7. Outline an empiric management algorithm for abdominal pain. (Fig 24.5) 

Wisecracks

1. What are the structures included in the foregut, midgut, and hindgut? More importantly, why do you care? 
2. List indications for bedside US in the ED patient with abdominal pain (Table 24.3) 
3. Explain how referred pain works in the setting of abdominal pain (Fig 24.2)