How to identify and treat appendicitis during pregnancy
Appendicitis is a dangerous situation during pregnancy because its symptoms are slightly different and the delay in diagnosis can break the inflamed appendix, spread stool and microorganisms in the abdominal cavity, resulting in a serious infection that endangers the life of the pregnant woman and the baby.Risk.
- Symptoms of appendicitis during pregnancy are manifested by persistent abdominal pain on the right side of the abdomen.
- Around the navel.
- Which may descend through the abdomen.
- At the end of pregnancy.
- During the third trimester of gestation.
- Appendicitis pain can pass to the lower abdomen and ribs and can be mistaken for common contractions at the end of pregnancy.
- Making diagnosis difficult.
Symptoms of appendicitis during pregnancy may include
Other less common symptoms, such as diarrhea, heartburn, or excess intestinal gas, may also appear.
Diagnosing appendicitis is more difficult at the end of pregnancy because, due to uterine growth, the appendix may change position, with an increased risk of complications.
What should be done when a pregnant woman has persistent abdominal pain and fever is to consult the obstetrician for diagnostic tests, such as an abdominal ultrasound, and confirm the diagnosis, as symptoms may also occur from changes in pregnancy, without being a sign of appendicitis.
Treatment of appendicitis during pregnancy is surgical.There are two types of surgery to remove the appendix, open or conventional appendectomy and videolaparoscopic appendectomy; the preference is for the appendix to be removed from the abdomen by laparoscopy, which reduces postoperative time and associated morbidity.
Laparoscopy is usually indicated for the first and second trimesters of pregnancy, while open appendectomy is limited at the end of pregnancy, but it is the doctor who must make this decision, as there may be a risk of preterm birth, although in most cases.pregnancy continues smoothly for mom and baby.
Pregnant women should be admitted to the hospital for surgery and, after the procedure, monitored, pregnant women should go to the doctor’s office once a week to assess wound healing to prevent possible maternal-fetal infections, ensuring good recovery.