ABDOMINAL-PAIN DURING PREGNANCY

Abdominal pain in the pregnant patient may be a manifestation of obste tric, gynecologic, gastrointestinal, urologic, extra-abdominal, or sys temic disease. Some of these disorders are unique to the pregnant pati ent. Other conditions may occur in both pregnant and nonpregnant indiv iduals, but the presentation and clinical course in pregnant patients may be altered by the anatomic and physiologic changes that normally o ccur during pregnancy. Although accurate diagnosis and prompt interven tion may be necessary to ensure a satisfactory outcome for mother and child, the diagnostic approach and treatment in pregnant patients may be different than in nonpregnant patients.