Definition of Acute abdomen

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Acute abdomen: The abrupt (acute) onset of abdominal pain. A potential medical emergency, an acute abdomen may reflect a major problem with one of the organs in the abdomen such as the appendix (being inflamed = appendicitis), the gallbladder (inflamed = cholecystitis), the intestine (an ulcer that has perforated), the spleen (that has ruptured), etc. The term "acute abdomen" is medical shorthand. It has nonetheless come into common usage in medical parlance. Source: MedTerms™ Medical Dictionary
http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=6140
Last Editorial Review: 7/2/2001