APPENDICITIS IN PREGNANCY

Abstract

Between January 1990 and March 1995, nineteen pregnant women with appendicitis who had been operated in our clinic were investigated, retrospectively. Gestational stage at presentation included the first trimester in 2 (10.52%), the second trimester in 10 (52.63%) and the third trimester in 7 (36.84%) patients, The patients had a mean age of 24.3 years (range 18-38 years old). Fourteen of 19 (73.69%) patients were detected as acute appendicitis, perforation occurred in five of 19 (26.31%) patients. The most frequent complaint was pain (in all patients) diffused to the whole abdomen or localized to the right side and, vomiting was the subsequent complaint with the rate of 52.63%. The time from initial complaint to operation was between 24 hours and 15 days (mean 3.13 days). There was no maternal mortality in non-perforated appendicitis group while there was one maternal mortality in perforated appendicitis group. There were three fetal deaths (15.8%), one of them was in the non-perforated group. In three patients with perforated appendicitis plus generalized peritonitis uterine contraction started and was ended preterm labor. The other case was admitted to our clinic two days after preterm labor because of generalized peritonitis due to perforated appendicitis. It was noticeable that the intervals between the beginning of complaint and admission to the hospital was too long and that was because of the initial idea of the complaints attributed to pregnancy by the patient or physician.