Acute abdomen and abdominal pain in pregnancy

Abdominal pain in pregnancy may be due to the anatomical and physiological changes of the pregnant state or may be totally unrelated to pregnancy. Some conditions that are associated with the pregnant state, such as urinary tract infections, may present with abdominal pain. Acute abdomen refers to an intra-abdominal process that is characterized by abdominal pain, tenderness and muscular rigidity, for which emergency surgery must be considered. Hence, it includes life-threatening conditions such as acute appendicitis, acute pancreatitis and intraperitoneal infection or haemorrhage. Pregnancy may alter the clinical presentation of these life-threatening conditions and hence, may pose diagnostic difficulties. Moreover, the presence of a fetus may modify the management. Timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment of conditions contributing to abdominal pain and acute abdomen during pregnancy is likely to improve maternal and perinatal outcome.