Review
Appendicitis in pregnancy: how to manage and whether to deliver
Abstract
Key content
- Appendicitis in pregnancy is common.
- Whether to deliver a pregnant woman with appendicitis is a contentious issue.
- There are many uncertainties with diagnosis of appendicitis in pregnancy.
- Management of pregnant women with appendicitis requires a multidisciplinary approach involving obstetricians, anaesthetists and surgeons.
Learning objectives
- To understand the modalities useful in accurate diagnosis of appendicitis in pregnancy.
- To learn about the range of clinical presentations and differential diagnoses.
- To appreciate the risks involved with different management options, anaesthetic and surgical.
- To be able to manage a pregnant woman with suspected appendicitis for the best possible outcome.
Ethical issues
- Operative delivery of a pregnant woman with appendicitis may put her at unnecessary risk. How should she best be managed for the best possible outcome for her and the fetus?