Background: Acute abdomen is one of the commonest reasons for presentation at the
emergency department. The physiologic changes of pregnancy increase the chances of developing acute abdomen. The
global incidence of acute abdomen in pregnancy range from 1 in 500 to 1 in
635 pregnant women. In 2018, a study in Azerbaijan reported a prevalence of
25%. However, to the best of our knowledge, very few studies have been carried
out on this subject in Cameroon.Objectives: To determine the prevalence, assess the
aetiologies, and review clinical profile of acute abdomen in pregnancy in the
Southwest Cameroon.Methods: We conducted a 5-year
retrospective study at the Obst/Gyn and Surgical units of Kumba, Buea, and
Limbe Regional Hospitals. We included all files of pregnant women
that were admitted for acute abdomen within the study period (1st Jan 2017 to 31st Dec 2021). Data was collected using a structured
checklist adapted from previous studies. Descriptive statistics and statistical
testing was done using SPSS version 25.0. Chi-square was used to compare
categorical variables. p < 0.05 was considered significant.
References
[1]
Stedman’s. Stedman’s Medical Dictionary, 27th Edition Deluxe. https://www.alibris.com/Stedmans-Medical-Dictionary- 27th-Edition-Deluxe-Stedmans/book/30000738
[2]
Cervellin, G., Mora, R., Ticinesi, A., Meschi, T., Comelli, I., Catena, F. and Lippi, G. (2016) Epidemiology and Outcomes of Acute Abdominal Pain in a Large Urban Emergency Department: Retrospective Analysis of 5,340 Cases. Annals of Translational Medicine, 4, Article No. 362. https://doi.org/10.21037/atm.2016.09.10
[3]
Zachariah, S.K., Fenn, M., Jacob, K., Arthungal, S.A. and Zachariah, S.A. (2019) Management of Acute Abdomen in Pregnancy: Current Perspectives. International Journal of Women’s Health, 11, 119-134. https://doi.org/10.2147/IJWH.S151501
[4]
Sivanesaratnam, V. (2000) The Acute Abdomen and the Obstetrician. Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 14, 89-102. https://doi.org/10.1053/beog.1999.0065
[5]
Augustin, G. and Majerovic, M. (2007) Non-Obstetrical Acute Abdomen during Pregnancy. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 131, 4-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2006.07.052
[6]
Ojaghihaghighi, S., Vahdati, S.S., Taghavi, S., Jahandari, A.R., Majd, P.S. and Mirza-Aghazadeh-Attari, M. (2018) Epidemiological Study of Pregnant Women Admitted to the Emergency Department. Journal of Emergency Practice and Trauma, 4, 44-47. https://doi.org/10.15171/jept.2017.21
[7]
Jain, R. and Gupta, V. (2016) A Prospective Study of Epidemiology and Clinical Presentation of Non-Traumatic Acute Abdomen Cases in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Central India. International Surgery Journal, 4, 242-245. https://doi.org/10.18203/2349-2902.isj20164449
[8]
Kameoka, S. and Ogawa, S. (2001) Acute Abdomen in Pregnancy. Japan Medical Association Journal, 44, 496-500.
[9]
Hizam, A.R., Hamad, S.O. and AL-Obaidi, S.M. (2012) Acute Abdomen during Pregnancy in Baghdad. AL-Kindy College Medical Journal, 8, 1-5.
[10]
Hamad Al-Dahhan, F. and A Hassan, E. (2004) Acute Abdomen in Pregnancy: Aetiology & Outcome in Basrah. Basrah Journal of Surgery, 10, 92-98. https://doi.org/10.33762/bsurg.2004.57545
[11]
Gallagher, E.J., Lukens, T.W., Colucciello, S.A., Morgan, D.L., Cantrill, S.V., Campbell, M., et al. (2000) Clinical Policy: Critical Issues for the Initial Evaluation and Management of Patients Presenting with a Chief Complaint of Nontraumatic Acute Abdominal Pain. Annals of Emergency Medicine, 36, 406-415. https://doi.org/10.1067/mem.2000.109446
[12]
Shambe, I.H., Dikkol, N. and Ozoilo, K.N. (2016) Pregnancy Outcome Following Non-Obstetric Abdominal Surgery in Jos University Teaching Hospital: A 5-Year Retrospective Study. Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice, 19, 591-594. https://doi.org/10.4103/1119-3077.188712
[13]
Alatise, O.I., Lawal, O.O., Agbakwuru, E.A., Adesunkanmi, A.R.K., Faponle, A.F., Dare, F.O., et al. (2007) Emergency Non-Obstetric Abdominal Surgery in Pregnancy. East and Central African Journal of Surgery, 12, 28-35.
[14]
Woodhead, N., Nkwam, O., Caddick, V., Morad, S. and Mylvaganam, S. (2019) Surgical Causes of Acute Abdominal Pain in Pregnancy. The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, 21, 27-35. https://doi.org/10.1111/tog.12536
[15]
Shervington, J.P. and Cox, C. (2000) Abdominal Pain in Pregnancy: Diagnosis, Surgery and Anaesthesia. The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, 2, 17-22. https://doi.org/10.1576/toag.2000.2.1.17
[16]
Arora, D., Bhattacharyya, T.K., Kathpalia, S.K., Kochar, S.P.S. and Lele, P.R. (2005) Acute Abdomen in Gynaecological Practice. Medical Journal Armed Forces India, 61, 66-70. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0377-1237(05)80124-8
[17]
Visser, B.C., Glasgow, R.E., Mulvihill, K.K. and Mulvihill, S.J. (2001) Safety and Timing of Nonobstetric Abdominal Surgery in Pregnancy. Digestive Surgery, 18, 409-417. https://doi.org/10.1159/000050183
[18]
Alouini, S., Valery, A., Lemaire, B., Evrard, M.L. and Belin, O. (2022) Diagnosis and Management of Pregnant Women with Placental Abruption and Neonatal Outcomes. Cureus, 14, e21120. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.21120
[19]
Page, N., Roloff, K., Modi, A.P., Dong, F. and Neeki, M.M. (2020) Management of Placental Abruption Following Blunt Abdominal Trauma. Cureus, 12, e10337. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.10337
[20]
Udigwe, G.O., Umeononihu, O.S. and Mbachu, I.I. (2010) Ectopic Pregnancy: A 5 Year Review of Cases at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH) Nnewi. Nigerian Medical Journal, 51, 160-163.
[21]
Njingu, A.E., Cumber, S.N., Geh, M.M., Edgar, M.M.L., Nkfusai, C.N., Ngunde, J.P. and Halle-Ekane, G.E. (2020) Incidence, Risk Factors, Clinical Presentation and Treatment of Ectopic Pregnancy in the Limbe and Buea Regional Hospitals in Cameroon. PAMJ-Clinical Medicine, 2, Article 95. https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj-cm.2020.2.95.21279
[22]
Priso, E.B., Njamen, T.N., Mboudou, E. and Sama, A.D. (2009) Identification de Certains Facteurs Cliniques de Risque des Grossesses Extra—Uterines a l’Hopital General de Douala. Health Sciences and Disease, 10.
[23]
Dvash, S., Cuckle, H., Smorgick, N., Vaknin, Z., Padoa, A. and Maymon, R. (2021) Increase Rate of Ruptured Tubal Ectopic Pregnancy during the COVID-19 Pandemic. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 259, 95-99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2021.01.054
[24]
Gerema, U., Alemayehu, T., Chane, G., Desta, D. and Diriba, A. (2021) Determinants of Ectopic Pregnancy among Pregnant Women Attending Referral Hospitals in Southwestern Part of Oromia Regional State, Southwest Ethiopia: A Multi-Center Case Control Study. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 21, Article No. 130 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-021-03618-7
[25]
Kouam, L., Kamdom-Moyo, J., Doh, A.S. and Ngassa, P. (1996) Treatment of Ectopic Pregnancies by Laparotomy in Under-Equipped Countries. A Series of 144 Cases at the Yaounde University Hospital Center (Cameroon). Journal de Gynecologie, Obstetrique et Biologie de la Reproduction, 25, 804-808.
