title: Abdominal pain and dysuria in pregnancy: urinary tract infection or life threatening haemorrhage?
abstract: This report describes the case of a 27 year old woman presenting at 19 weeks' gestation with epigastric pain and dysuria. Initially diagnosed with a urinary tract infection, she re-presented 10 days later with acute abdominal pain and haemoperitoneum. The diagnosis of placenta percreta was not made until laparotomy. This case highlights placenta percreta as a rare but serious complication of pregnancy that may become increasingly frequent as the rates of caesarean delivery rise. Early diagnosis, close monitoring, and prompt surgical management are essential as massive blood loss can occur. This can be challenging, as clinical presentation can be unusual.
authors.affiliation: Accident and Emergency Department, St. Mary's Hospital NHS Trust, London, UK. mike.lamyman@ukgateway.net
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Lamyman
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Connor
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010921:Placenta Accreta / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000209:etiology*