[Acute abdomen in pregnancy. Diagnosis of surgical causes]

The diagnostic work up of an acute abdomen may be more difficult in pregnant than in non-pregnant women due to the normal anatomical and physiological changes that occur during pregnancy. Delayed diagnoses and treatment may have more serious consequences for pregnant women than for other patients. We report the cases of two pregnant women, one with a volvulus of the small intestine and the other with a perforated appendix. We discuss important aspects of the diagnostic work up for acute abdomen with surgical etiology in pregnant women. If a surgical etiology is suspected in a pregnant women with acute abdominal pain, the patient should be examined and followed closely both by a surgeon and a gynaecologist until a final diagnosis is reached.