Acute abdominal pain in gynaecology

Fifty female patients with acute abdominal pain were studied. High risk factors helping in clinical diagnosis were evaluated and 7(14%) cases with clear cut surgical indications were immediately operated on while 43 (86%) were kept under active observation. In doubtful cases, culdoscopy and diagnostic laparoscopy were found to be helpful in confirming the diagnosis and another 26% were operated later on. The delay in surgery did not increase the morbidity and mortality and only one patient (2%) underwent unnecessary laparotomy. Hence, it was concluded that active observation in cases of acute abdominal pain of doubtful origin is a safe and effective approach.