Laparoscopic Appendectomy for Acute Appendicitis in a 30-Week Pregnant Patient—A Case Report—

Abstract

There have been some reports of laparoscopic appendectomy for acute appendicitis during pregnancy, but there are still few cases of those in third trimester. A 30-week pregnant patient was referred to our department with a diagnosis of acute appendicitis. By devising the intraoperative position and the port arrangement, we could complete laparoscopic appendectomy safely without affecting the uterus. We thought feasible to conduct laparoscopic surgery in our patient even in third trimester. In case of perforated appendicitis or that with abscess formation, it is predicted that the enlarged uterus will make difficult to secure enough operative field or to achieve sufficient intraperitoneal lavage. Laparoscopic appendectomy might be useful for selected patients during third pregnancy trimester, however, in some cases, it must be desirable to convert the operation to open to ensure the safety of patients and their fetuses.