Acute Abdomen in Gynaecological Practice

Acute abdomen in pregnancy is due to consequence of pregnancy itself or is totally unrelated to pregnancy. During pregnancy, a woman is at an increased risk of acute abdomen due to various physiological changes. The article discusses the various conditions which can present as acute abdomen in women during pregnancy and in non-pregnant state. The clinician often has a difficult task in diagnosing and managing acute abdomen in pregnancy. Clinical evaluation is further confounded by various anatomical and physiological changes occurring in pregnancy. The growing gravid uterus too causes difficulty in detailed examination. The general reluctance to use conventional X-rays because of pregnancy should be set aside when faced with a seriously ill mother. A reluctance to operate during pregnancy adds unnecessary delay, which increases morbidity for both the mother and the fetus. Adnexal accidents should always be kept in mind in a woman with acute abdomen even if she is not pregnant. Such mistakes should be avoided as prompt diagnosis and appropriate therapy are crucial. A general approach to acute abdominal conditions in pregnancy is to manage these problems considering the risk to mother regardless of the pregnancy.