Learning objectives
1. Outline aetiology and incidence of common pathology that presents as an acute abdomen in pregnancy. 2. Retrospectively assess the imaging findings of pregnant patients presenting with acute abdominal or pelvic pain. 3. Review the imaging modality of choice for pregnant patients.
Background
INTRODUCTION The incidence of the acute abdomen during pregnancy is 2%. Acute abdomen in pregnancy remains one of the most challenging diagnostic and therapeutic dilemmas today. The anatomical and physiological changes of pregnancy render the diagnosis and management of abdominal pain challenging due to blunting of symptoms, the enlarged uterus, difficulty evaluating the abdomen and physiological leucocytosis. The role of imaging is to distinguish between cases requiring urgent intervention and those that can be managed conservatively. Non obstetric surgical intervention will be required in 0.5%....
Imaging findings OR Procedure details
URINARY TRACT CAUSES OF ACUTE ABDOMINAL AND PELVIC PAIN IN PREGNANCY 1. HYDRONEPHROSIS/ OBSRTUCTION Hydronephrosis is a common finding in pregnancy. It may be due to either an obstructing calculus or more commonly is due to physiological hydronephrosis of pregnancy. Hydronephrosis related to pregnancy is commoner on the right side and may be painful or not. The gold standard of investigation of the renal tract is US or CT. The utility of MRI for assessment of the urinary tract in patients with suspected renal colic...
Conclusion
Acute abdominal and pelvic pain during pregnancy presents a significant diagnostic challenge. Non-obstetric emergency surgery is not without significant risk to mother and foetus. The role of imaging is to distinguish between cases requiring urgent intervention and those that can be managed conservatively. This case review series illustrated the differential diagnoses of the acute abdomen and the use of US and MRI as the main imaging modalities.
