Management of a Walled-off Perforated Appendix in a 39 th Week Gestational Pregnancy: A Case Report

Background: One of the most common surgical problems that requires emergent intervention during pregnancy is acute appendicitis [1]. The incidence of appendicitis during pregnancy is 1 in 766 births, with 16% of the diagnoses occurring within the third trimester [1,2]. Acute appendicitis, with subsequent wall-off perforation, can pose a great risk to both the mother and the fetus. Thus, it is extremely important to recognize and correctly diagnose acute appendicitis, in all trimesters of pregnancy. Case Presentation: This case report discusses a 30-year-old G1P0 with a gestation age of 39.6 who presented to the hospital with complaint of flank pain that waxed and waned. The medical team consisting of labor and delivery nurses, obgyn attending physician and a general surgery attending. Possible etiologies for such presentation including UTI, nephrolithiasis, pyelonephritis, uterine abruption, uterine rupture or musculoskeletal causes were all effectively ruled out. MRI was then performed and suggested appendicitis with associated appendicolith. The risk of perforation and potential complication was discussed amongst the patient, obstetrician and general surgeon. The patient was given an active participation in the decision making and ultimately decided that she would like to proceed with cesarean and appendectomy. Conclusions: Given the nonclassical presentation of acute appendicitis in pregnancy, a closer evaluation for the underlying etiology is warranted. Acute appendicitis in pregnancy should not be excluded based on clinical evaluation alone, as there is great risk posed to the mother and fetus if missed. Imaging should be performed if no other underlying etiology can account for the clinical features. Any diagnostic uncertainty may delay surgical intervention resulting in risk of maternal morbidity and potential fetal mortality. In term patients, expeditious delivery followed by appendectomy may be warranted.