April 2019 Vol. 7 No.4

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Review

Acute Appendicitis and Pregnancy

Ioannis K. Thanasas*, Christina D. Tsiamanta and Achilleas A. Giannoulakos

Department Obstetrics and Gynecology, General Hospital of Trikala, Trikala, Greece

*Corresponding Author’s Email: thanasasg@hotmail.com
Phone: 2431029103/6944766469

Accepted April 16, 2019

Abstract

Acute appendicitis is the most common non-obstetric cause of diagnostic laparotomy in pregnancy. Diagnosis is not easy. It is usually a mild clinical picture that many times mimics the common discomforts during pregnancy and in particular the physiological changes in anatomical relationships caused by the gradual increase in the size of the uterus during pregnancy and it may delay the timely and correct diagnosis of the disease. The big dilemma in treating acute appendicitis in pregnancy is to take a timely and correct decision for surgical investigation of the disease (laparoscopy / laparotomy). The main concern of the modern obstetrician - gynecologist should be to be properly informed about the way the disease can affect or be influenced by pregnancy, but also his active participation in the diagnosis and treatment of the acute surgical problem in order to ensure better health for the mother and the fetus. In this article, based on current data, a brief literature review of acute appendicitis in pregnancy is attempted, particularly with regard to diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.

Keywords: Acute appendicitis, Pregnancy, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prognosis