Here’s a sordid acronym: BITCH.

Acute abdominal pain

• Bleeding (haemorrhage)
• Inflammation
• Twisting (torsion, leading to ischaemia)
• Congestion (obstruction)
• Hole (perforation)

Bleeding

• Ruptured AAA, ovarian cyst, ectopic pregnancy or abdominal organ
• Leads to haemoperitoneum, meaning blood in the abdominal cavity

Inflammation

• -itis of any organ in the abdominal area
• Just think of the anatomy in the region to come up with possibilities
• Appendicitis is the most likely surgical cause, while gastroenteritis is a common ailment of the masses

Twisting

• Sigmoid volvulus
• Torsion of gonadal structures (ovaries or testes)

Congestion

• Things that involve blockage
• Constipation
• Intestinal obstruction, ureteric obstruction from renal calculus or urinary retention
• Mesenteric ischaemia

Hole

• Perforated gastrointestinal structure
• Gastric or duodenal ulcers