Scenario 2

The 25-year-old woman presents with acute left sided lower abdomen and pelvic pain

Relevant History Points

Onset and duration of pain

Timing of symptom onset and how long the pain has been present.

Character

Sharp, dull, crampy and its intensity

Radiation

Associated Symptoms

Nausea, vomiting, fever, urinary symptoms, vaginal discharge or abnormal vaginal bleeding

Menstrual History

LMP, regularity of cycles, dysmenorrhea, intermenstrual bleeding

Sexual History

Recent sexual activity, contraceptive use (adherence and type), history of STIs and condom use

Previous Medical and Surgical History

Any relevant medical conditions or surgeries, including reproductive health history (e.g., previous pregnancies, miscarriages, abortions).

Recent Trauma or Physical activity e.g: Vigorous exercise

Relevant Examinations

Vitals: Temp, pulse, BP, RR

Abdominal: Inspection for any visible abnormalities, palpation for tenderness or masses, percussion for abnormal tympany, and auscultation for bowel sounds

Pelvic: Inspection of external genitalia for abnormalities, speculum examination to assess vaginal discharge or bleeding, bimanual examination to assess pelvic organs for tenderness, masses, or organ enlargement

Rectal: If indicated, to assess for rectal tenderness, masses, or occult blood.

Ovarian cyst rupture: Sudden-onset unilateral pelvic pain, often associated with physical activity or intercourse

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID): Lower abdominal pain, cervical motion tenderness, and adnexal tenderness, often associated with vaginal discharge and fever.

Ectopic pregnancy: Unilateral pelvic pain, vaginal bleeding, and a positive pregnancy test, especially in women of reproductive age with risk factors such as previous ectopic pregnancy or tubal surgery.

Endometriosis: Chronic pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and infertility, often associated with cyclic symptoms

Acute appendicitis: Periumbilical pain migrating to the right lower quadrant, associated with anorexia, nausea, vomiting, and localized tenderness on examination

Renal colic: Flank pain radiating to the groin, associated with hematuria and urinary symptoms

Gastrointestinal causes: Various gastrointestinal conditions such as diverticulitis, inflammatory bowel disease, or gastroenteritis can present with lower abdominal pain, often associated with altered bowel habits, bloating, or rectal bleeding.

Differential Diagnoses

Management Plan For 3 Most probable Diagnoses

Ovarian Cyst Rupture: Symptomatic management with NSAIDs for pain relief.
-Observation and monitoring for resolution of symptoms, with consideration of pelvic ultrasound if diagnosis is uncertain or if complications are suspected

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID):
Investigations include Pelvic U/S, Pelvic CT Scan, Laproscopy and Vaginal Discharge for the Gram stain and culture
-Empiric antibiotic therapy targeting common pathogens (e.g., ceftriaxone plus doxycycline with or without metronidazole).
-Partner notification and treatment if applicable.
-Follow-up to ensure resolution of symptoms and consideration of pelvic imaging if no improvement or if complications (e.g., tubo-ovarian abscess) are suspected.

Ectopic Pregnancy:
-Urgent referral to a gynecologist for further evaluation and management.
-Assessment of hemodynamic stability and consideration of surgical intervention (e.g., laparoscopy) or medical management with methotrexate depending on the clinical scenario.
-Serial monitoring of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) levels and ultrasound to ensure resolution and exclude ongoing ectopic pregnancy.

References:

  1. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). (2020). Practice Bulletin No. 202: Gestational Trophoblastic Disease. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 135(3), e150-e167. DOI: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000003720
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2021). Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) - CDC Fact Sheet. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/std/pid/stdfact-pid.htm
  3. Johns Hopkins Medicine. (n.d.). Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). Retrieved from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/pelvic-inflammatory-disease-pid
  4. Mayo Clinic. (2021). Ectopic Pregnancy - Symptoms and Causes. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ectopic-pregnancy/symptoms-causes/syc-20372088
  5. Medscape. (2021). Ovarian Cysts Clinical Presentation. Retrieved from https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/255865-clinical#b1
  6. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). (2020). Diverticulitis. Retrieved from https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/diverticulitis
  7. UpToDate. (n.d.). Overview of acute pelvic pain in women. Retrieved from https://www.uptodate.com/contents/overview-of-acute-pelvic-pain-in-women

Contributors:
Dr. Musarrat Manzoor
Dr. Eliabu Jotham Kabetero
Algorithm made by Dr. Maheen Batool