[Acute appendicitis and pregnancy]

Acute appendicitis remains the most common nonobstetric surgical diagnosis during pregnancy, requiring surgery. It is estimated that its frequency is 1 case per 1500 pregnancies. The delay in the diagnosis correlates with an increase in ruptured appendix and a dramatic elevation in fetal and maternal morbidity and mortality. In the study the authors discuss the clinical presentation, laboratory findings, operative treatment, pathologic diagnosis and the outcome of the disease of 17 cases with acute appendicitis in pregnancy, operated in the Clinic of Thoraco Abdominal Surgery for a ten years period of time. The early surgical treatment plays an important role for the succsessful outcome of the disease and reduces the complications for the mother and the fetus.