[Acute abdominal pain--internist's viewpoint].

Acute abdominal pain remains a diagnostic challenge even today. Although computer-assisted diagnostic aids have been designed, these are not yet well established in clinical practice. Thus when facing this problem most physicians rely on experience and sound knowledge of the broad etiological spectrum of acute abdominal pain. In the first section of this presentation some practical issues are discussed with regard to basic diagnostic steps (history, clinical findings, laboratory tests, plain abdominal film, abdominal ultrasound), as seen from the internist's point of view. In the second part interdisciplinary management of complicated peptic ulcer disease, acute pancreatitis, acute diverticulitis, right lower quadrant pain, and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis are briefly outlined.