Sudden/nocturnal onset of acute abdominal pain, lasting less than a day and accompanied by vomiting: a tell-tale sign of ovarian torsion

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to construct a clinical profile of a patient more likely to have ovarian torsion (OT). The study design was a retrospective chart review (Canadian Task Force Classification II-3). The study was done in a tertiary referral center setting. Patients were 78 women who underwent laparoscopy for suspected ovarian torsion. Intervention done was urgent laparoscopic surgery. The main outcome measure was a comparison of demographic data and the presenting signs and symptoms of the women with and without laparoscopically proven OT. Multivariable analysis was performed with a logistic regression model in order to determine the independent risk predictors for OT. The following factors were found to be predictive of OT: vomiting (OR = 5.67, 95% CI 1.69–19.0, p = 0.005); duration of pain less than a day (OR = 3.74, 95% CI 1.24–11.3, p = 0.02), and sudden/nocturnal onset of pain (OR = 4.13, 95% CI 1.19–14.3, p = 0.02). The model was found to be adequate, with a c value of 0.798. A patient presenting with an episode of pain lasting less than a day that started suddenly and or at night, accompanied by vomiting is more likely to have OT on urgent laparoscopy.