Background

Acute abdominal pain (AAP) is a common reason for calling emergency medical services (EMS). Despite the widely acknowledged importance of effective prehospital pain management, described by patients as crucial regardless of any other factor, studies on prehospital pain management in AAP patients are limited and suggest room for improvement. This is particularly relevant given the long-standing controversy surrounding the use of analgesia in AAP patients before a final diagnosis is made, which may still influence the prehospital pain management.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study of pain management in EMS patients with AAP in a central Swedish region. The region had a population density of 15.7 inhabitants per square kilometer spread over a mix of small urban and rural settings. Patient records were manually reviewed and scanned for written assessments or numeric ratings of pain. The analysis focused on proportions of assessment, treatment and reassessment of pain as well as median pain intensity, pain reduction and proportion of patients with a low last recording of pain.

Results

816 patients were included. Pain was assessed in 55% (n = 447) of all cases. The median initial pain intensity was eight units (IQR 6.0–9.0) on the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), and 90% (n = 403) of the assessed patients experienced moderate or severe pain. Of those, 62% (n = 249) received pharmacological treatment. In 50% (n = 158) of all cases receiving treatment, pain was reassessed afterwards. The median pain reduction was four units (IQR 2.0–5.0) on the NRS scale. Among all cases, 10% (n = 84) had a last recorded pain assessment indicating low pain.

Conclusions

Significant room for improvement in the prehospital management of acute abdominal pain was found. The proportions of pain assessment, treatment and reassessment were low with nine out of ten patients leaving prehospital care with unknown, moderate or severe pain. Among the cases where pain assessment, treatment and reassessment were made and recorded, four out of five patients experienced significant pain relief, indicating the potential of better prehospital pain management.