BACKGROUND: Acute appendicitis is the main abdominal non-obstetric surgical pathology during pregnancy. It may occur at any maternal age and in any gestational period. It is frequently diagnosed lately, leading to a high index of perforation and complications. The aim of the study was to evaluate the feasibility of videolaparoscopic appendectomy. METHOD: Four pregnant patients, all in the second trimester, who were attended at the Emergency Unit at Hospital Mãe de Deus with clinical suspicion of acute appendicitis, were submitted to videolaparoscopic exploration and were retrospectively evaluated. RESULTS: Laparoscopy confirmed acute appendicitis in 3 cases and the other was a ruptured hemorrhagic ovarian cyst. All patients were treated laparoscopicaly, and no conversion was needed. There were no post-operative complications and all four were discharged within 48 hours. The patients were followed and the deliveries were carried out in a proper form, without maternal or newborn complications. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, laparoscopic appendectomy was a safe procedure. It allowed a fast recovery and there were no apparent interference with gestacional course. However more studies with a great number of cases are necessary, in order to establish its real value.
Appendectomy; Videolaparoscopy; Pregnancy; Appendectomy during pregnancy