23 - Abdominal pain inpregnancy

Summary

This chapter discusses the implications and obstetric complications of abdominal pain during pregnancy. Miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, ovarian cyst 'accidents', acute retention of urine, musculoskeletal causes, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, gastritis and hyperemesis gravidarum, fibroid degeneration and ruptured rudimentary horn are some predisposing factors for the cause of abdominal pain during pregnancy. Placental abruption, acute polyhydramnios, uterine scar dehiscence, acute chorioamnionitis, uterine torsion, HELLP syndrome are some of the obstetric complications. Acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP), acute cholecystitis, rupture of the rectus abdominis and urinary tract infections are some of the conditions related to pregnancy that cause abdominal pain. Acute appendicitis, acute pancreatitis, acute hepatitis, peptic ulcer disease, intestinal obstruction and sickle cell crisis are causes unrelated to pregnancy that cause abdominal pain. A high degree of clinical suspicion should be exercised to diagnose both common as well as potentially life-threatening causes of acute abdominal pain during p.