Laparoscopy for appendicitis and cholelithiasis during pregnancy: a new standard of care.
BACKGROUND
Subsequent to a report from the authors' institution, the laparoscopic management of symptomatic cholelithiasis and appendicitis during pregnancy has become the standard of care at LDS Hospital using institutional guidelines. For comparison with previous outcomes described by the authors, 59 additional laparoscopic cases are reported.


METHODS
Medical records of all pregnant patients at LDS Hospital who underwent open or laparoscopic cholecystectomy or appendectomy between 1998 and 2002 were reviewed. The outcomes were compared with the authors' previous data.


RESULTS
The laparoscopic management of symptomatic cholelithiasis and appendicitis during pregnancy increased from 54% to 97%. No significant differences in preterm delivery rates, birth weights, or 5-min Apgar scores were found between the two periods. No birth defects or uterine injuries occurred.


CONCLUSIONS
With the use of the authors' guidelines, laparoscopy has become the standard of care for managing symptomatic cholelithiasis and appendicitis during pregnancy at LDS Hospital without significant increase in morbidity or mortality.
Rollins
M D
MD
Department of Surgery, LDS Hospital, 8th Avenue and C Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84143, USA.
Chan
K J
KJ
Price
R R
RR
D000328:Adult; D001062:Appendectomy / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000601:surgery*; D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000592:standards*; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000601:surgery*; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000453:epidemiology; D005323:Fetal Monitoring; D016519:Hospitals, Religious / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000453:epidemiology; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000601:surgery*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014589:Utah / Q000453:epidemiology