Appendicitis complicating pregnancy

Abstract

In this series, nine pregnant patients had appendectomy. Seven patients had acute appendicitis; pyuria and symptoms suggesting urinary tract infection delayed diagnosis in one whose appendix perforated. Abdominal pain and nausea with or without vomiting were presenting symptoms in all of the patients. Tenderness in the right lower quadrant was present in six. Eight patients, including two with a normal appendix, had leukocytosis with a left shift. There was no fetal or maternal loss. In addition, I reviewed more than 900 other cases of appendectomy during pregnancy, as reported in the literature since 1960. Among 713 previously reported cases of confirmed appendicitis, rupture had occurred in 25%. There were five maternal deaths, all in the group of patients with perforation. Perinatal mortality was 4.8% among patients with acute inflammation only and 19.4% in those with perforative appendicitis. The diagnosis rests on clinical acumen, and prompt surgical intervention is the key to good outcome.