title: Appendicitis during Pregnancy: The Clinical Experience of a Secondary Hospital.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Appendicitis is the most common condition leading to an intra-abdominal operation for a non-obstetric problem in pregnancy. The aim of this study was to examine our experience and to analyze the clinical characteristics and the pregnancy outcomes for appendicitis during pregnancy that was reported in Korea.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reported 25 cases of appendicitis during pregnancy that were treated at Good Moonhwa Hospital from January 2004 to March 2010. We also analyzed appendicitis during pregnancy reported in Korea between 1970 and 2008 by a review of journals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of acute appendicitis during pregnancy was one per 568 deliveries. The mean age was 27.92 years old, the gestational stage at the onset of symptoms was the first trimester in 10 patients (40%), the second trimester in 14 patients (56%), and the third trimester in 1 patient (4%). Among the 25 cases, 21 were treated with an open appendectomy and 4 with laparoscopic appendectomies. The postoperative complications were 2 wound infections and 1 spontaneous abortion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our experience demonstrated that appendectomies on pregnant patients can be successfully performed at secondary hospitals.
authors: Department of Surgery, Busan St. Mary's Medical Center, Busan, Korea.
authors: Soo Jung
authors: SJ
authors: Jung
authors: Do Kyung
authors: DK
authors: Lee
authors: Jun Hyun
authors: JH
authors: Kim
authors: Pil Sung
authors: PS
authors: Kong
authors: Kyung Ha
authors: KH
authors: Kim
authors: Sung Woo
authors: SW
authors: Bae