[Laparoscopy in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in pregnant women]

Abstract

Diagnostic laparoscopy in 96 pregnant women with suspected acute appendicitis revealed inflammation of the vermiform process only in two (2.1%) of them. In 81 cases acute surgical diseases of the abdominal organs were not found, extrauterine pregnancy was revealed in 9 and other diseases of the abdominal organs were detected in 4 cases. The threat of abortion was mistaken for acute appendicitis most frequently. Unjustified operation in such cases intensifies still more the signs of the threat of abortion. Analysis allows the assertion that the laparoscopic method should be decisive in the examination of pregnant women with a doubtful clinical diagnosis in suspected acute appendicitis. Laparoscopy is indicated when the reserves of the generally accepted clinical methods and noninvasive instrumental examination do not allow the diagnosis of acute appendicitis to be established or excluded; it is also recommended in establishing the exact diagnosis and determining the approach and volume of an operative intervention when there is a clinical picture of an acute surgical disease of the abdominal cavity.