Appendicitis during pregnancy - symptoms and effects

Pregnancy is one of the brightest periods in a woman’s life. At this time, the expectant mother should enjoy her beautiful position, expect the baby to appear, and not worry about anything. However, the period of childbearing may be overshadowed by some health difficulties. One of the difficulties that may arise is appendicitis. How dangerous is the disease during pregnancy and how to treat it?

What is appendicitis?

Appendicitis is a disease that manifests itself as an inflammatory process in the appendix, a peculiar process in the shape of a worm. This process in the human body does not perform any function, it is rather a rudiment.

However, even an organ that does not perform any function may from time to time manifest itself, and not in the best way.According to statistics, approximately 25% of the population suffer from inflammation of the appendix. Most often, appendicitis occurs at a young age of 30 years, however, age does not play any role.

In women, the appendix can also inflame. Moreover, such a disease by and large and occurs just as a result of pregnancy. According to statistics, about 5% of all women with appendicitis were in the position at the time of inflammation. This disease in acute form, by the way, is more common in pregnant women.

Appendicitis can be represented in two different forms, namely catarrhal and destructive. The first, catarrhal form is characterized by an increase in the size of the appendix and swelling. However, the process remains intact. The destructive form of appendicitis is divided into several types:

1. Phlegm. With this inflammation, the appendix is ​​filled with pus, which turns into a real bubble. In order for appendicitis to go from the first form to reflux, it will take at least 6 hours, the maximum will happen during the day.There are cases when this transition takes place within just one hour. If there are a number of conditions, a bubble filled with pus may simply burst. This is what is dangerous appendicitis.
2. If during the reflux of appendicitis the necessary measures have not been taken, the pathology can proceed to the next stage - gangrenous. In this case, the process of tissue death begins, as a result of which there is also a danger of rupture of the appendix. In this form, the swollen bubble may last for about 12 hours.
3. The most complex and most dangerous form of appendicitis is perforative. This form of pathology can come just a day after the first symptoms of inflammation appear. The stage is characterized by rupture of the appendix and filling of the abdominal cavity with pus from the bladder. This circumstance can provoke an infection, which is very dangerous for both the mother and the unborn child. If during the day the patient will not be given proper assistance, the consequences can be very sad.

Factors of appendicitis

To date, the medical community is not able to give a detailed description of the causes of appendicitis. The most common version is the blockage of the lumen between the appendix and the cecum.

The blockage itself can occur for various reasons. First, the stagnation of feces. If a small amount of feces remains in the intestine, they may eventually harden and turn into fossils. As a result, stagnation occurs. Moreover, slags that are not excreted from the body can take a place in the lumen between the intestine and the appendix. Sometimes the unusual position of the appendix can contribute to the development of appendicitis. This process can be placed in the abdominal cavity in completely different ways.

Pregnancy is a condition that adversely affects the development of appendicitis. The fact is that during this period the uterus in the abdominal cavity of a woman is greatly increased, due to which the neighboring organs are displaced. This is especially true of the intestines. Easily during pregnancy, the position of the appendix can change, which will result in inflammation.

In addition, while expecting a child, many expectant mothers suffer from an unstable chair, namely, they suffer from constipation.As a result, fecal masses from the intestine can penetrate directly into the appendix, thereby causing stagnation. Or a blockage of the lumen between the intestine and the process may occur, which can also provoke inflammation.

You should also take into account the fact that during violations of the chair, and specifically, with constipation in the intestine - the balance of microflora is disturbed. This circumstance may also somewhat affect the development of the inflammatory process. Malicious organisms from the intestine are able to penetrate the process and in some way provoke inflammation.

Signs of appendicitis in pregnant women

Not to notice that the patient has appendicitis is quite difficult, as it is usually accompanied by severe symptoms. However, women in a state of pregnancy often confuse the signs of appendicitis and an increase in the tone of the uterus. The increased tone of this organ in the period of childbearing is far from uncommon, like many other difficulties that arise in such a state.

It is very important for any pregnant woman to detect signs of appendicitis in time,since any delay can lead to very sad consequences. We can distinguish the main signs of appendicitis in pregnant women:

1. The first thing in the formation of the inflammatory process is always pain. And it will hurt in the place of localization of inflammation. Since during pregnancy, due to an increase in the uterus, the appendix shifts slightly upwards, the pain will be felt mainly in the upper abdominal cavity.
2. The next stage in appendicitis is the spread of pain, causing the pain to shift to the lower abdomen. Sometimes pain have a shingles character. In this case, the discomfort will be observed in the back, in the lumbar region, as well as in the opposite side. The intensity of the pain also increases. If at the beginning of the inflammatory process the pain was not so strong, now it will be permanent and more pronounced. Initially, the pain has a nagging and pulling character, and then take on a cramping appearance. You may notice that in the position lying on the right side the pain becomes stronger.
3. Since the appendix also puts pressure on the uterus, the expectant mother may develop hypertonus. With this pathology, the hardness of the abdomen is noted, and slight pain may also occur.
4. Sometimes the appendix, depending on its position, puts pressure on the liver. In this case, the expectant mother will feel nauseous, vomiting may begin. If the appendix is ​​located in the pelvic area, inflammation will lead to pain during urination.
5. A woman has a weakness that is not characteristic of her body.
6. Quite often, appendicitis is accompanied by a significant increase in body temperature.

What are the effects of inflammation of the appendix?

As mentioned earlier, the consequences of appendicitis for the expectant mother are very serious:

1. If the pus-filled process exerts too much pressure on the uterus, excessive tension can form in it. This condition threatens preterm birth or even abortion.
2. Pathological processes in the body during gestation of the baby can easily provoke placental abruption in the uterus, which in the absence of the necessary measures can also lead to fetal death.
3. A woman may experience internal bleeding due to inflammation.
4. Owing to the inflammatory process, hypoxia can begin to develop - a phenomenon that is characterized by the lack of the necessary amount of oxygen in a child. This circumstance greatly influences the development in the baby of irreversible changes in the brain, as well as many other internal organs.
5. There are certain risks in the future life of a pregnant woman and after the operation to remove the appendix. Here it is extremely important that the woman is under the strict control of doctors, otherwise she may have complications. First, in the postoperative period, an obstruction in the intestine may appear, since at this time the emptying process changes somewhat. Secondly, there is a risk of infection, which is also very dangerous for both the mother and the unborn child.

How to determine appendicitis?

It is impossible to diagnose the presence of inflammation in the appendix by means of a single examination. In this case, a complex of diagnostic measures is needed. A woman will need to donate blood and urine for analysis, as well as undergo an ultrasound test.

To date, the most accurate data can provide a modern procedure - laparoscopy. In this case, the puncture of the abdominal cavity and the subsequent placement of the chamber there.

Therapy

It is possible to cure inflammation in the appendix only in one way - by surgical intervention. Any other methods to cure appendicitis, unfortunately, is impossible. If the inflammatory process has begun, the appendix will need to be deleted unambiguously. This can be done using two different methods:

1. A traditional operation in which a small incision is made in the abdominal cavity, up to 10 centimeters long. Then, through the incision, the appendix is ​​gently removed, and stitches are applied to the site of tissue rupture. Remove the stitches, usually a week after surgery.
2. The second technique is a more modern version, which is more suitable for pregnant women. In this case, laparoscopic intervention is performed. In this case, several punctures are made in the abdominal cavity, in one of which the camera is placed, and in the other special tools, which are called manipulators.This technique involves a much smaller number of possible complications, which is undoubtedly safer for the expectant mother.

During the postoperative period, it is extremely important for a pregnant woman to comply with all the doctor’s prescriptions in order to avoid complications and undesirable consequences. The woman will be prescribed a strict diet with a sparing diet, and experts will monitor the work and the state of her intestines. Also, doctors can pick up antibacterial agents that do not affect the fetus.

Video: how to recognize the first signs of appendicitis