Trends in Appendicitis Among Pregnant Women, the Risk for Cardiac Arrest, and Maternal-Fetal Mortality

Management for Acute Uncomplicated Appendicitis During Pregnancy: National Trends and Patient Outcomes

OBJECTIVE

This study analyzes national trends in the management of uncomplicated appendicitis during pregnancy, comparing outcomes for nonoperative management (NOM) and appendectomy.

BACKGROUND

In the nonpregnant population, several randomized controlled trials demonstrated noninferiority of NOM compared with appendectomy for acute uncomplicated appendicitis. However, it remains unclear whether these findings are generalizable to pregnant patients.

METHODS

The National Inpatient Sample was queried for pregnant women diagnosed with acute uncomplicated appendicitis from January 2003 to September 2015. Patients were categorized by treatment: NOM, laparoscopic appendectomy (LA), and open appendectomy. A quasi-experimental analysis with interrupted time series examined the relationship between the year of admission and the likelihood of receiving NOM. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the association between treatment strategy and patient outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 33,120 women satisfied the inclusion criteria. Respectively, 1070 (3.2%), 18,736 (56.6%), and 13,314 (40.2%) underwent NOM, LA, and open appendectomy. The NOM rate significantly increased between 2006 and 2015, with an annual increase of 13.9% (95% CI, 8.5-19.4, P <0.001). Compared with LA, NOM was significantly associated with higher rates of preterm abortion (odds ratio [OR]: 3.057, 95% CI, 2.210-4.229, P <0.001) and preterm labor/delivery (OR: 3.186, 95% CI, 2.326-4.365, P <0.001). Each day of delay to appendectomy was associated with significantly greater rates of preterm abortion (OR: 1.210, 95% CI, 1.123-1.303, P <0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Although NOM has been increasing as a treatment for pregnant patients with uncomplicated appendicitis, compared with LA, it is associated with worse clinical outcomes.

Appendicitis in pregnant women: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the diagnostic performance of ultrasonography

OBJECTIVES

The accuracy of ultrasound in the detection of appendicitis in pregnant women was examined in a meta-analysis.

METHODS

Pregnant women with suspected acute appendicitis were evaluated using ultrasound in a systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases from January 1, 2011 to August 10, 2023. The sensitivity and specificity values and diagnostic odds ratios were obtained using the pooled data.

RESULTS

A total of 239 patients were studied in four relevant investigations. Ultrasonography has a sensitivity of 56% and a specificity of 88% for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.66%. Ultrasonography had a positive likelihood ratio of 4.65 (95% confidence interval, 1.42-15.23) and a negative likelihood ratio of 0.50 (95% confidence interval, 0.41-0.62). There was no evidence of publication bias (p = 0.93).

CONCLUSIONS

Ultrasound has moderate sensitivity for identifying appendicitis in pregnant women and may be utilized as an alternative diagnostic method.

Parada cardiorrespiratória obstétrica: construção e validação de instrumento para avaliar o conhecimento da enfermagem

RESUMO Objetivo Construir e validar instrumento para avaliar o conhecimento da enfermagem sobre parada cardiorrespiratória obstétrica. Métodos Estudo metodológico composto pela construção do instrumento, validação de conteúdo por 23 especialistas e validação da consistência interna com 74 profissionais da enfermagem e 99 estudantes de enfermagem. Foram considerados válidos os itens com concordância mínima de 90%, verificada a partir do Índice de Validação de Conteúdo, Razão de Validade de Conteúdo e teste binomial. O alpha de Cronbach foi utilizado para verificar a consistência interna e o valor superior a 0,6 classificado como aceitável. Resultados O instrumento foi composto por16 questões de múltipla escolha, dos 16 itens avaliados, oito possuíram concordância de 100% e seis 95%. A menor razão de validade de conteúdo foi de 0,82 e o alpha de Cronbach foi de 0,694. Conclusões O instrumento foi construído e validado, recomendando-se sua utilização para avaliação do conhecimento em parada cardiorrespiratória obstétrica.

Obstetric cardiopulmonary arrest: construction and validation of an instrument to assess nursing knowledge

ABSTRACT Objective To build and validate an instrument to assess nursing knowledge about obstetric cardiopulmonary arrest. Methods A methodological study consisting of the construction of the instrument, content validation by 23 experts and validation of internal consistency with 74 nursing professionals and 99 nursing students. Items with a minimum agreement of 90%, verified from the Content Validation Index, Content Validity Ratio and binomial test were considered valid. Cronbach’s alpha was used to verify internal consistencyand a value greater than 0.6 was classified as acceptable. Results The instrument consisted of 16 multiple-choice questions, from the 16 items evaluated, eight had 100% agreement by the experts and six had 95%. The lowest content validity ratio was 0.82 and Cronbach’s alpha was 0.694. Conclusions The instrument was constructed and validated, and its use is recommended to assess knowledge in obstetric cardiopulmonary arrest.

Case controlled study on diagnostic predictive value of inflammatory markers of complete blood count in pregnant women with acute appendicitis

The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the diagnostic ability of platelet-related parameters and white cell-based parameters in pregnant women with appendicitis. This is a retrospective case-controlled study. Women aged between 18 and 50-years-old who had undergone appendectomy between January 2010 and January 2021 were enrolled in the study. Age, pathological diagnosis and relevant laboratory parameters were recorded for each patient. Gestational characteristics were recorded for pregnant patients. There were 58 pregnant and 1171 non-pregnant women enrolled. Pregnant women with acute appendicitis were significantly younger (p < .0001, d= -0.532), had significantly lower PLT (p = .002, d= -0.428) and ALC (p = .033, d= -.304) levels but had significantly higher MPV (p = .004, d = .415) levels than non-pregnant counterparts. In pregnant women, only MPV was the independent predictor of acute appendicitis (OR: 1,952). MPV cut-off value of 9,6 fL provided 63,5% sensitivity, 67,7% specificity, 94,2% PPV and 17,3% NPV whereas 10 fL provided 55,8% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% PPV and 21,4% NPV for acute appendicitis in pregnant women. Therefore, MPV might be useful for diagnosing acute appendicitis in pregnant women.Impact statementWhat is already known on this subject? In pregnant women, counts and percentages of white blood cells and neutrophils are known to be independent predictors of acute appendicitis. Meanwhile, physiologic leukocytosis of gestation is a challenge for interpretation of these parameters. Platelets and related markers are, as well, predictive for inflammatory processes in the human body.What do the results of this study add? The role of platelet-related markers in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in pregnant women has not been studied previously. The results of the present study indicate that in pregnant women, changes in mean platelet volume might be an independent predictor of acute appendicitis.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Further similar large-scale case-controlled or cohort studies are required to validate the present results. In pregnant women with abdominal pain, the use of mean platelet volume as a biomarker could reduce negative laparotomy rates. A mean platelet volume is a useful tool for diagnosing acute appendicitis in pregnant women and provides helpful guidance for clinicians dealing with these patients in the emergency room.