Diverticulitis in Pregnancy Is Associated with High Complication Rates

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Gastroenterology
• Public Health

Background:

• Diverticulitis is an emerging cause of obstetric infection due to earlier onset and advanced maternal age.
• Limited data exists on diverticulitis in pregnancy and no specific treatment guidelines are available.
• This study addresses the frequency and complications of diverticulitis during pregnancy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incidence of hospitalization for diverticulitis in pregnant patients.
• To identify common maternal and fetal complications associated with pregnancy and diverticulitis.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study utilizing the National Readmissions Database (NRD) from 2016-2019.
• Identified pregnant patients with International Classification of Diseases-10 codes for diverticulitis.
• Analyzed demographics, gestational age, interventions, readmissions, and maternal/fetal complications.

Main Results:

• 470 pregnant patients with diverticulitis were identified; 72.3% were in the third trimester.
• 34.0% of admissions resulted in delivery within 48 hours; 3.8% had complicated diverticulitis.
• Maternal complication rate was 41.3%, fetal complication rate was 41%, including 1.9% fetal loss. No maternal deaths reported.

Conclusions:

• Diverticulitis during pregnancy is linked to substantial maternal and fetal complications.
• Further research is needed to establish optimal outcomes and best practices for this patient group.