For sudden onset of severe subxiphoid pain go directly to the emergency department where the doctor will usually recommend routine blood work, blood biochemistry, abdominal ultrasound, X-rays or an ECG to screen for abdominal or cardiac disease.
If the patient has a history of biliary tract diseases such as gallstones and cholecystitis, he/she can go to the hepatobiliary surgery department; if the patient has stomach cancer or pancreatic cancer, he/she can go to the oncology or gastroenterology department for pain.