Acute abdomen in pregnancy: role of sonography.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this presentation is to review the role of sonography in evaluation of acute abdomen during pregnancy.

METHODS

Illustrative cases were collected from gravid patients who presented with signs and symptoms suspicious for acute abdomen and subsequently underwent sonography.

RESULTS

This presentation shows sonographic findings of various maternal complications that can present with acute abdominal pain in pregnant patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Sonography remains the first line of imaging in pregnant patients presenting with acute abdomen. Patient triage or additional imaging may be obtained on the basis of the sonographic findings.