Acute Pelvic Pain

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Acute Pelvic Pain - The Painful Puzzle

Acute onset pain, lower abdomen/pelvis. Duration < 3 months. Crucial first step: Urine Pregnancy Test (UPT)! Prioritize life-threatening: Ectopic, Ovarian Torsion, Appendicitis.

  • Assessment:
    • Vitals (ABCDE approach).
    • History: LMP, sexual activity, red flags (fever, syncope, bleeding).
    • Exam: Abdominal (peritonism?), Pelvic (Cervical Motion Tenderness - CMT? Adnexal mass?).
  • Key Investigations: UPT, CBC, Transvaginal Ultrasound (TVS).

⭐ Ruptured ectopic pregnancy is a common cause of 1st-trimester maternal mortality.

Locations of ectopic pregnancy

Gynae Culprits (Non-Pregnant) - Womb Woes

  • Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID):
    • Criteria: Cervical motion tenderness (CMT) OR uterine/adnexal tenderness. 📌 PID CAN (CMT, Adnexal/Uterine tenderness, No other cause).
    • Supportive: Fever >38.3°C; ↑ESR/CRP.
    • Fitz-Hugh-Curtis: Perihepatitis (RUQ pain, "violin-string" adhesions).
  • Ovarian Torsion:
    • Sudden, severe unilateral pain, N/V; adnexal mass.
    • USG: Enlarged ovary, stromal edema, ↓/absent Doppler flow (key!), whirlpool sign.

    ⭐ Ovarian torsion: surgical emergency. "Time is ovary" for function preservation.

  • Ruptured Ovarian Cyst:
    • Sudden pain, often post-coitus/exercise.
    • Hemorrhagic: Severe pain, risk of hemoperitoneum. USG: Complex cyst, free fluid.
    • Simple: Milder pain. USG: Simple cyst, free fluid.
  • Tubo-ovarian Abscess (TOA):
    • PID complication. Fever, pain, tender adnexal mass.
    • USG: Complex multiloculated adnexal mass, thick walls. Ultrasound of ovarian torsionoka

Gynae Culprits (Pregnant) - Baby Blues & Beyond

  • Ectopic Pregnancy: Life-threatening!

    • Triad: Amenorrhea, abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding. Shoulder tip pain (Kehr's sign).
    • Risks: Prior ectopic, tubal surgery, PID, ART, IUD.
    • Dx: Serum hCG >1500-2000 IU/L (TVUS) or >6000 IU/L (TAS) with empty uterus. USG: Adnexal mass (e.g., tubal ring sign), free fluid.
    • Rx: Methotrexate (if stable, hCG <5000 IU/L, mass <3.5-4cm, no fetal cardiac activity); Surgery (if unstable or MTX contraindicated).

    ⭐ Ruptured ectopic pregnancy is a leading cause of maternal mortality in the 1st trimester.

  • Miscarriage Types (Spontaneous Abortion):

    • Threatened: Cervix closed, bleeding +/- pain, viable fetus on USG.
    • Inevitable: Cervix open, bleeding, pain, products of conception (POC) may be passing.
    • Incomplete: Cervix open, some POC retained, ongoing bleeding.
    • Complete: Cervix (usually) closed, all POC expelled, uterus empty.
    • Septic: Any above type + signs of infection (fever, purulent discharge, uterine tenderness).
  • Ovarian Cyst Accidents:

    • Torsion: Sudden, severe, unilateral pain, nausea/vomiting. USG: enlarged ovary, stromal edema, whirlpool sign.
    • Hemorrhage/Rupture: Acute onset pain, may have peritoneal signs. Often corpus luteum cyst in early pregnancy.

Ultrasound: Ectopic pregnancy with adnexal mass

Non-Gynae Masqueraders - Gut & Grumbles

ConditionPainKey SxClues / Diff.
AppendicitisPeriumbilical → RIFAnorexia, N/V, low feverRovsing's; No Gynae Sx
UTI/PyeloSuprapubic (cystitis); Flank (pyelo)Dysuria, freq; Fever (pyelo)Urine +ve (nitrites/WBCs); CVA tender
Renal ColicColicky: Loin → GroinHematuria, N/VUrinalysis (RBCs); Imaging
DiverticulitisLLQ, constantFever, altered bowelOlder age; CT
IBD FlareCramps, bloody diarrheaWeight lossKnown IBD Hx

⭐ Appendicitis in pregnancy: pain often atypical (e.g., RUQ/periumbilical) due to uterine displacement. Most common non-gynae surgical emergency.

Cracking the Case - Detective Workup

Rapid, systematic evaluation is vital. Prioritize life-threatening conditions.

⭐ In suspected ectopic pregnancy (positive UPT), TVS is key. Absence of intrauterine sac with β-hCG >1500-2000 mIU/mL (discriminatory zone) is highly suggestive.

High‑Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • Ectopic pregnancy: rule out first in reproductive-age women with amenorrhea & acute pelvic pain.
  • PID: presents with bilateral lower abdominal pain, cervical motion tenderness (CMT), adnexal tenderness.
  • Ovarian torsion: sudden, severe unilateral pain; ultrasound with Doppler is diagnostic.
  • Ruptured ovarian cyst: sudden, sharp unilateral pain; risk of hemoperitoneum.
  • Appendicitis: common mimic; pain migrates to RLQ, often with fever/anorexia.
  • UTI/Pyelonephritis: features dysuria, frequency, urgency, suprapubic or flank pain.

Practice Questions: Acute Pelvic Pain

Test your understanding with these related questions

A 19-year-old woman presents to the emergency department reporting that she fainted at work earlier in the day. She has mild vaginal bleeding and her abdomen is diffusely tender and distended. She also complains of shoulder and abdominal pain. Her vital signs show temperature 97.6°F (36.4°C), pulse 120/min, and blood pressure 96/50 mmHg. To confirm the diagnosis suggested by the available clinical data, the best initial diagnostic procedure is

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Flashcards: Acute Pelvic Pain

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Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) refers to acyclical pelvic pain of more than _____ months duration.

TAP TO REVEAL ANSWER

Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) refers to acyclical pelvic pain of more than _____ months duration.

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