Applicability of imaging in the evaluation of acute abdomen during pregnancy

Abstract

Acute abdomen in pregnancy is a rare condition whose diagnosis is difficult because of the typical physiological alterations of pregnancy that make the findings less evident. Although obstetric acute abdomen is more common, non-obstetric abdominal pain has a marked impact on the morbidity and mortality of the mother and fetus. The etiology of non-obstetric acute abdomen mainly includes acute appendicitis, biliary disease, intestinal obstruction, pancreatitis, and abdominal trauma. The diagnosis and treatment should be established early to reduce complications for the mother and fetus. In view of the importance of the subject, the objective of the present article was to report an update on the applicability of imaging methods in the evaluation of acute abdomen during pregnancy.