Acute appendicitis associated with pregnancy, labor and the puerperium

Eleven patients were operated on for acute appendicitis during pregnancy, in labor or during the puerperium. All patients had acute, gangrenous or perforated appendicitis. There was no fetal or maternal mortality, although three patients developed postoperative pneumonia, pelvic phlegmon or wound infection. The physical findings of appendicitis are altered by the displacement of the appendix by the uterus. The white blood counts must be interpreted with the leukocytosis of pregnancy in mind.