Final answer:
An acute abdominal series is indicated for conditions like bowel obstruction, perforated viscus, and severe undiagnosed abdominal pain, and includes plain radiographs like an upright chest and abdominal views.
Step-by-step explanation:
An acute abdominal series is typically indicated for patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of various intra-abdominal conditions that may require immediate medical attention. The series most often includes a combination of plain radiographs like an upright chest, supine abdomen, and an upright or lateral decubitus abdominal view. Some common indications for requesting an acute abdominal series include suspected bowel obstruction, perforated viscus (suggesting a perforated peptic ulcer or ruptured diverticulum), and severe abdominal pain of unknown origin.
An acute abdominal series can help diagnose issues such as free air from a perforation, abnormal gas patterns indicative of obstruction, or signs of infection such as an ileus or ascites. However, it is important to note that other imaging modalities like CT scans are often utilized as they provide more detailed information and are more sensitive for certain conditions.