Open Access Surgery (Nov 2023)
Appendicitis During Pregnancy: Best Surgical Practices and Clinical Management
Abstract
Caroline Smolkin,1 Adam Kiridly,1 Aurora Pryor2 1Department of Surgery, Northwell North Shore/Long Island Jewish, New Hyde Park, NY, USA; 2Department of Surgery, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Northwell Health, New Hyde Park, NY, USACorrespondence: Caroline Smolkin, Department of Surgery, Northwell North Shore/Long Island Jewish, 270-05 76th Avenue Research Building - C Level, Room 039AB, New Hyde Park, NY, 110400, USA, Tel +1 732-299-1494, Email [email protected]: Appendicitis is a common abdominal surgical emergency. However, treatment becomes more complex when the patient is pregnant. It is important to consider the diagnostic differences in pregnant and non-pregnant patients, as well as the changes to surgical and non-surgical management. Commonly, appendicitis in pregnancy is diagnosed with radiographic imaging, preferably ultrasound or MRI. Due to increased risk with delay to surgery, surgical management is recommended, as opposed to non-operative management, and ultimately a laparoscopic appendectomy is the surgery of choice. We aim to provide a comprehensive review of the best practices and clinical management of appendicitis in pregnancy.Keywords: appendicitis, pregnancy, appendectomy, surgery, laparoscopic
