emDocs - December 06, 2020 - By Marina Boushra
Reviewed by: Alex Koyfman and Brit Long
"Key Takeaways:
- Abdominal pain is a common complaint in pregnancy and abdominal pathology in pregnant patients may arise from both obstetric and non-obstetric causes.
- Delayed diagnosis of common conditions in pregnant patients results in significant morbidity in this high-risk group compared to their peers.
- The tenets of diagnosis and management are the same in pregnant and non-pregnant patients.
- CT is still extremely useful as a diagnostic modality in pregnancy and should not be withheld from pregnant patients if indicated. A conversation with the patient regarding the limited associated risk of radiation should be undertaken and shared decision making regarding how to proceed should be discussed.
- An understanding of the anatomic and physiologic changes associated with pregnancy and how they affect patient presentation is paramount to timely diagnosis and management in these patients. A multi-disciplinary team-based approach to these patients can help in the diagnosis and ideal treatment of this vulnerable patient population."