ABSTRACT
Pregnancy causes significant changes throughout all systems; however, some of the more significant changes are observed in the cardiovascular, hematologic, and respiratory systems. One of the most profound changes that occur is the increase in cardiac output of 30-50% higher than prepregnancy values. An increase in heart rate by up to 15-20 beats per minute must also be considered when interpreting tachycardia in the pregnant patient as this can represent a normal change versus an underlying pathological response. One of the main concerns regarding the evaluation of a patient presenting with an acute abdomen is the safety of diagnostic imaging tests. It is important to weigh the potential risks of the diagnostic test against any significant harm that may befall the patient if a diagnosis is delayed. Most adnexal masses encountered in pregnancy are benign and resolve spontaneously. Surgery is recommended if the mass is suggestive of malignancy, ovarian torsion is suspected, or patients are clinically symptomatic.
