Medical myth: Analgesia should not be given to patients with an acute abdomen because it obscures the diagnosis.

摘要: Surgical tradition holds that the use of analgesics should be withheld from patients with acute abdominal pain until a diagnosis and management plan have been established by surgeon. This belief originated early in this century1 was emphasized Cope his extremely influential book, Early Diagnosis Acute Abdomen. claimed analgesia would mask signs symptoms, delay diagnosis, lead to increased morbidity mortality.2 In most recent edition Cope's Silen condemns practice withholding medication patient pain. next sentence, however, he states given only after “responsible surgeon” takes thorough history performs physical examination. actual practice, surgeon is rarely first physician examine pain, surgical consultation can take many hours. Given all evidence medical literature suggests narcotic does not obscure diagnosis—and may even improve diagnostic accuracy—in such patients, traditional substantial seen as inappropriate inhumane.