Clinical Profile and Presentation Patterns of Patients with Non-Traumatic Acute Abdomen in a Tertiary Care Setting
Patterns of Patients with Non-Traumatic Acute Abdomen
Keywords:
Non-traumatic acute abdomen, clinical characteristics, emergency department, acute appendicitis, comorbid conditionsAbstract
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Background: The aim is to study the clinical characteristics of patients presenting with non-traumatic acute abdomen in a tertiary care hospital. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in the Department of General Surgery and included all non-trauma patients over the age of 15 who presented to the emergency department with abdominal pain. Pregnant women were excluded from the study. A comprehensive clinical examination and detailed patient history were recorded, followed by abdominal X-ray and Ultrasonography (USG) for all participants. Additional radiological and blood tests were performed as needed. Analgesics were administered orally or intravenously based on pain severity. Patients were followed until discharge from the emergency department or admission to the ward, and the final diagnosis was documented. A total of 200 patients were included. Results: The study found that the majority of patients (47.5%) were between 16-31 years old, with males comprising 60.0% of cases and females 40.0%. Most patients (70.0%) reported pain lasting less than three days, indicating the acute nature of their symptoms. Hypertension and Type 2 Diabetes were the most common comorbidities, present in 5.0% and 7.0% of patients, respectively. Acute appendicitis was the most frequent etiology, accounting for 30.0% of cases, followed by acute intestinal obstruction (12.5%) and acute calcular cholecystitis (10.0%). Complications were observed in 17.5% of patients, with a high survival rate of 98.0%, although 2.0% of patients experienced mortality. Conclusion: This study highlights the diverse clinical presentations of non-traumatic acute abdomen and emphasizes the need for systematic and timely diagnostic approaches. Early recognition and intervention are critical for improving outcomes, particularly given the range of etiologies and the influence of comorbid conditions. The findings also suggest that efficient management and prompt care contribute to the high survival rates observed.
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