Review article

https://doi.org/10.21860/medflum2019_227124

Appendicitis in pregnancy

Mario Milotić orcid.org/0000-0002-0001-6892 ; Sveučilište u Rijeci, Medicinski fakultet, Rijeka, Hrvatska
Luciana Miljas ; Sveučilište u Rijeci, Medicinski fakultet, Rijeka, Hrvatska
Vilma Grbas ; Sveučilište u Rijeci, Medicinski fakultet, Rijeka, Hrvatska
Harry Grbas ; Sveučilište u Rijeci, Medicinski fakultet, Rijeka, Hrvatska

Abstract

Acute appendicitis (AA) is one of the most common non-obstetric indications for surgery in pregnant women. Even though it can present with a typical set of symptoms, in pregnancy due to the physiological and anatomical changes, an atypical presentation is more common. This makes the diagnosis of AA very complicated and it requires additional exams which include a blood work, CRP and imaging studies. Since leucocytosis and increased levels of CRP are physiological finding in pregnancy, those tests are not very helpful. MRI is the best imaging test in this situation, but its availability is limited. The treatment is surgical, and it includes two approaches: open appendectomy (OA) or laparoscopic appendectomy (LA). Even though many studies that predilect OA can be found, recent discoveries indicate that there is no statistically significant difference in the risk for the mother and foetus between the two approaches. Some studies introduce a non-operative approach as a valuable substitution for a surgical approach in case of AA especially in the areas where surgical care is limited or unavailable. AA in pregnancy is a condition that must be recognized and treated as soon as possible in order to avoid severe complications for the mother and the child. This review gives an integral approach to a pregnant woman with appendicitis, and it’s based on the latest published literature.

Keywords

Appendectomy; appendicitis; laparoscopy; pregnancy

Hrčak ID:

227124

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/227124

Publication date:

1.12.2019.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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