Non-traumatic abdominal emergencies in pregnancy present a unique diagnostic challenge, including a wide range of disorders such as gastrointestinal, gynecological, obstetrical, and renal diseases. Ultrasonography is widely accepted as the first-line imaging modality for the evaluation of non-traumatic abdominal emergencies in pregnant women, especially obstetric and gynecological abnormalities, due to its availability, portability, and lack of ionizing radiation. It also has high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing the common non-obstetric causes of acute abdomen during pregnancy, particularly appendicitis and cholecystitis. However, the evaluation of the bowel, pancreas, and ureters may be limited on ultrasound because of patient body habitus, a small field of view, and the presence of overlying structures. Despite these limitations, ultrasonography, by means of transvaginal technique, is mainly used in early pregnancy, and transabdominal ultrasound is still performed as the diagnostic test of choice in the emergency setting to evaluate pregnant women presenting with an acute abdomen. In this chapter, we will review the ultrasound findings of those non-traumatic, non-obstetric abdominal emergencies where ultrasonography plays an important role in the prompt identification of the underlying cause of acute abdominal pain. These conditions are appendicitis, acute biliary disease, acute urinary tract disease, adnexal torsion, and adnexal masses causing an acute abdomen.

Non-traumatic Abdominal and Pelvic Emergencies in Pregnant Patients: Role of Ultrasound

Pizzi, Andrea Delli;Mincuzzi, Erica;
2020-01-01

Abstract

Non-traumatic abdominal emergencies in pregnancy present a unique diagnostic challenge, including a wide range of disorders such as gastrointestinal, gynecological, obstetrical, and renal diseases. Ultrasonography is widely accepted as the first-line imaging modality for the evaluation of non-traumatic abdominal emergencies in pregnant women, especially obstetric and gynecological abnormalities, due to its availability, portability, and lack of ionizing radiation. It also has high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing the common non-obstetric causes of acute abdomen during pregnancy, particularly appendicitis and cholecystitis. However, the evaluation of the bowel, pancreas, and ureters may be limited on ultrasound because of patient body habitus, a small field of view, and the presence of overlying structures. Despite these limitations, ultrasonography, by means of transvaginal technique, is mainly used in early pregnancy, and transabdominal ultrasound is still performed as the diagnostic test of choice in the emergency setting to evaluate pregnant women presenting with an acute abdomen. In this chapter, we will review the ultrasound findings of those non-traumatic, non-obstetric abdominal emergencies where ultrasonography plays an important role in the prompt identification of the underlying cause of acute abdominal pain. These conditions are appendicitis, acute biliary disease, acute urinary tract disease, adnexal torsion, and adnexal masses causing an acute abdomen.
2020
978-3-030-42721-4
978-3-030-42722-1
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11564/720341
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