An acute care approach to functional abdominal pain.

Functional abdominal pain disorders are commonly seen in the acute care setting and can be a source of frustration for patients and providers given their inherent chronic nature. However, an understanding of both the general approach to these disorders and the approach to specific common subtypes can help alleviate this frustration and lead to both short-term and long-term therapeutic success. This article describes the pathophysiology of these disorders and outlines a diagnostic and therapeutic approach to commonly seen functional abdominal pain disorders in adults.