Obstetric triage: management of acute nonobstetric abdominal pain in pregnancy

Acute, nonobstetric abdominal pain is a common complaint during pregnancy. Both anatomic and physiologic variations in pregnancy cloud the clinical picture when attempts at clinical decision-making and triage are made. Abdominal disorders such as appendicitis, gallbladder disease, pancreatitis, bowel obstruction, liver disease, pyelonephritis, and inflammatory bowel disease are explored from an obstetric triage perspective. Key triage points are noted to augment clinical assessment by the practitioner.