Acute appendicitis during pregnancy.
Acute appendicitis is the most common surgical emergency occurring during pregnancy. To determine possible methods for improving diagnostic and management accuracy, a retrospective review was conducted of 23 pregnant patients who underwent laparotomy with a preoperative diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Gestational stage at presentation included the first trimester in 2 patients, the second trimester in 6 patients and the third trimester in 15 patients. Eighteen patients (78.26%) had pathologically proven acute appendicitis. Perforation occurred in 2 patients. Postoperative fetal complications included one intrauterine death (4.3%) and three premature births. There was no maternal deaths and morbidity was limited to atelectasis and wound infection in 4 patients. Gestational physiologic changes make difficult the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Prompt surgical intervention prevent maternal complications and foetal loss.
Sakhri
J
J
Service de Chirurgie Générale et Digestive, CHU Farhat Hached Sousse, Tunisie.
Youssef
S
S
Ben Letaifa
D
D
Sridi
K
K
Essaidi
H
H
Khairi
H
H
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death; D006801:Humans; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000209:etiology*; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012421:Rupture