Essentialities of knowledge of whys and whats of acute abdomen during pregnancy

Abstract

Acute abdomen accounts for 5-10% of emergency department visits. It designates symptoms, signs of intraperitoneal disease with sudden onset, can persist for hours to days, and is associated with wide variety of clinical features which may not be, specific to underlying disease. Pregnant state complicates the issue because of anatomic, physiologic changes during pregnancy. Its causes are many, obstetric, gynecological, many others which encompass a wide spectrum of surgical and medical conditions from aortic dissection to psychogenic pain, almost anything in between, a trivial to life-threatening condition, which requires immediate therapy. Diagnosis is challenging, requires careful history, thorough evaluation of symptoms, examination, and judicious use of investigations to specify disease and management which many times could be surgery only. Individualized approach is the best with basics known