Abdominal pain in pregnant women

Dr. M.Mokhtari Zahedan University of Medical sciences

Case Presentation

A 22- year-old woman G132 weeks of gestationC.C. : Abdominal pain Past history:GastritisPrenatal care : POS

BP : 120/70  mmHg PR : 85/minRR: 19/min T: 37.3ChestAbdomen

laboratory findingsWBC : 12400/mm Hb:10.6mg/dLPLT:154000/mmAST,ALT,LDH : NormalU/A: NormalCreat : 0.7BS: 102 mgr/100

Sonography: 31+4 w fetus , AF Normal Abdominal and sonography NL

OBSERVATION

Principles of Ab. pain in pregnancy Mild to moderate abdominal discomfort

(usually transient) is common in normal pregnancy.

Pain related to enlarging uterus is more common in early pregnancy.

Fetal position or movement,Braxton-Hicks uterine contractions are more common later in pregnancy, especially in the third trimester.

Pain that is severe, sudden, constant, associated with other symptoms (eg, nausea, vomiting, vaginal bleeding), or in the upper abdomen suggests a disease process.

The presence of peritoneal signs (rebound tenderness, abdominal guarding) is never normal in pregnancy.

Prompt maternal-fetal evaluation.

Peritoneal signs are often absent in pregnancy lifting and stretching of the anterior abdominal wall underlying inflammation has no direct contact with the parietal

peritoneum precludes muscular response or guarding that is expected

The uterus can obstruct and inhibit the movement of the omentum to an area of inflammation

Monitoring for contractions: Throughout the evaluation period After definitive treatment

ChallangesNormal location of pelvic and abdominal

organs The laxity of the abdominal wall may also

diminish peritoneal signs (guarding, rebound).

Hydroureter and hydronephrosisaortocaval compression

Hematologic parametersWhite blood cell counts during pregnancy :

10,000 to 14,000 cells/mm3

In labor :20,000 to 30,000 cells/mm3 Returning to normal prepregnancy levels at

about one week postpartum

History and physical examination The fetal heart rate should be documented.

Continuous fetal heart rate monitoring is usually appropriate in pregnancies that have reached 23 to 24 weeks of gestation.

Past and current obstetrical historyLaboratory: Complete blood count Urinalysis Liver and pancreatic function tests

(aminotransferases, bilirubin, amylase, lipase)

In the presence of fever or unstable vital signs, blood and urine cultures should be performed.

Electrolytes and renal function tests can be useful in women who are vomiting or anorectic

Imaging  Ultrasound is typically the first-line modalityWhen ultrasound findings are equivocal or uncertain,

then the choice of the second-line modality depends on the differential diagnosis and should take into account availability, diagnostic performance, and fetal radiation exposure. When indicated, use of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is preferable

MRISafe in pregnancy for mother or fetus

Becoming standard of care for investigation of placental implantation abnormalities, and further delineation of fetal anomalies

Issue is contrast media

Delay in diagnosis and treatment can increase maternal and fetal/newborn morbidity and mortality.

Differential DiagnosisUterine conditionsAdnexal disease Nongynecological

Pregnancy-related causes

1)First half of pregnancy Miscarriage  Ectopic pregnancy  2)Second half of pregnancy Labor Placental abruption Uterine rupturePregnancy-related liver disease  (Severe

preeclampsia,HELLP , acute fatty liver of pregnancy)

Intraamniotic infection

Nonpregnancy-related causes Rupture of spleen often occurs during

pregnancy, usually in the third trimester, and is typically a catastrophic event .

Presenting symptoms include diffuse abdominal pain centered in the midline or left upper quadrant and radiating to the shoulder, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, syncope, and diarrhea or constipation. If the patient is in hemorrhagic shock, immediate laparotomy should be performed with ligation of the splenic artery and splenectomy.

Most common non-obstetrical surgical emergencies:

1. Acute appendicitis2. Cholecystitis3. Intestinal Obstruction4. Pancreatitis5. Trauma

Observation After 6-7 hours : Epigasteric pain

Gradually increase in BP in 2-3 hNo other severity sign

U/A: Normal AST:350 ALT:450 LDH :840IU/L Creat : 0.7 PLT:90,000/mm PBS

Diagnosis: HELLP syndromeMagnesium sulfate and termination of

pregnancyRepeated U/A: Neg for proteinuria

Preeclampsia SyndromeNew-onset HTN+ new-onset proteinuria 0r new-onset thrombocytopenia < 100,000 creat>1.1 0r doubling creat Transaminase: twice NL Pulmonary edema Headache, visual disturbances , covulsionsProteinuria is not absolutely required