title: Acute appendicitis in pregnancy: specific features of diagnosis and treatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acute appendicitis is the most frequent surgical emergency arising during pregnancy. Definitive diagnosis is often difficult. The therapeutic options remain the same, i.e. appendectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present a series of 29 pregnant women who underwent surgery for acute appendicitis over a period of 10 years. The mean age was 28.6 years. Mean gravidity was 1.75 and mean parity was 0.84. The average period of gestation was 18 weeks and 5 days since the last menses. Seven patients underwent surgery during the 1st trimester, 15 during the 2nd trimester, and seven during the 3rd trimester. Eighteen patients underwent appendectomy through a laparoscopic approach and 11 through a McBurney incision.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The postoperative course was uncomplicated in 27 patients. Two patients miscarried in the week following surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acute appendicitis puts both maternal and fetal prognosis at risk. Management should be prompt and undertaken by a multidisciplinary team approach. Morbidity and mortality are not negligible.
authors: Service de chirurgie générale, faculté de médecine de Tunis, hôpital Mongi Slim, Sidi Daoued La Marsa, Tunisia. nizar.miloudi@rns.tn
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Miloudi
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Brahem
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Ben Abid
authors: Z
authors: Z
authors: Mzoughi
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Arfa
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Tahar Khalfallah
mesh_terms: D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000209:etiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001062:Appendectomy / Q000379:methods; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D011264:Pregnancy Trimesters; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D055815:Young Adult