Acute abdomen in the emergency department: the emergency surgeon contribute "old is the new approach".

Acute abdominal pain is the most frequent complaint evaluated by the emergency surgeon. The frequency of this presentation and the multitude of diagnoses and severity of cases reinforce the importance of a methodic clinical approach and knowledge of the causes of acute abdomen. In this article, we intend to review the process of diagnosing an acute abdomen and remind the medical community the importance of an accurate history and physical examination in this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]