title: Management of acute appendicitis in pregnancy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acute appendicitis is the most common surgical non-obstetric pathology during pregnancy. In this report, pregnant patients operated with a diagnosis of acute appendicitis in the last three years are evaluated retrospectively.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January 2009 and January 2011, 20 pregnant patients were operated for acute appendicitis. Patients were evaluated regarding age, gestational age, clinical and laboratory examinations, imaging studies, operative findings, mean hospital stay, mean operative time, and outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 17 of 20 patients, acute appendicitis was confirmed and appendectomy was performed. Ten of the patients were operated with laparoscopic technique and the remaining 10 had open appendectomy. There was no fetal or maternal morbidity or mortality in any patient. All 20 patients delivered healthy babies during the postoperative course.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acute appendicitis is a challenging diagnosis in the pregnant patient; however, early surgical intervention should be performed with any suspicion. The type of surgery depends on the surgeon's preference and experience.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Bakırköy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey. selinkapan@gmail.com
authors.forename: Selin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kapan
authors.forename: Mehmet Abdussamet
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bozkurt
authors.forename: Ahmet Nuray
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Turhan
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gönenç
authors.forename: Halil
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alış
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001062:Appendectomy; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult