Abdominal pain during pregnancy

Gastroenterol Clin North Am. 2003 Mar;32(1):1-58. doi: 10.1016/s0889-8553(02)00064-x.

Abstract

Numerous medical, surgical, psychiatric, gynecologic, and obstetric disorders can cause abdominal pain during pregnancy. The patient history, physical examination, laboratory data, and radiologic findings usually provide the diagnosis. The pregnant woman has physiologic alterations that affect the clinical presentation, including atypical normative laboratory values. Abdominal ultrasound is generally the recommended radiologic imaging modality; roentgenograms are generally contraindicated during pregnancy because of radiation teratogenicity. Concerns about the fetus limit the pharmacotherapy. Maternal and fetal survival have recently increased in many life-threatening conditions, such as ectopic pregnancy, appendicitis, and eclampsia, because of improved diagnostic technology, better maternal and fetal monitoring, improved laparoscopic technology, and earlier therapy.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Abdominal Pain / diagnosis
  • Abdominal Pain / etiology*
  • Abdominal Pain / therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications* / diagnosis
  • Pregnancy Complications* / therapy