Evaluation of Abdominal Pain

POCUS is an effective and efficient modality for bedside clinicians to safely and efficiently evaluate patients presenting with abdominal pain [1–5]. Figure 38.1 proposes a clinically integrated POCUS approach to patients with abdominal pain. Acutely traumatized or unstable patients should be rapidly examined for signs of bleeding or an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). In stable patients, clinicians should use the history and physical exam to guide their POCUS evaluation. When using POCUS to evaluate patients with abdominal pain, the bedside clinician must consider the limitations that are dependent on clinician experience, patient characteristics, and disease factors.