Summary Approach to Patients with RIF pain
Approach to assessment and management of patients with RIF pain is summarised in the flow chart below. This relies heavily on overall clinical judgement. A patient in whom pain has settled and inflammatory markers are normal is unlikely to have appendicitis and can often be safely discharged if no other pathology is apparent.
Learning bite
Low-risk patients who are discharged home need clear advice to return to the ED should their symptoms recur.