Laparoscopic value in the management of acute abdomen during pregnancy

Abstract

Background Acute abdominal pain during pregnancy represents a challenging pathology in diagnosis and treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the value of laparoscopy in managing pregnant patients presented with acute abdomen. Materials and methods From June 2022 to June 2023, 45 pregnant females presented with acute abdominal pain were prospectively analyzed. These patients were treated laparoscopically, aiming for diagnostic and treatment purposes. Intra- and Postoperative evaluations for the laparoscopic value were assessed for all possible complications early, during the hospital stay and until the first postoperative 30 days. Results Inflammation 82.2%, including acute appendicitis 89.7%, and cholecystitis 10.3%, were found to be the most common causes of acute abdomen. No intraoperative or postoperative morbidity, including infection, sepsis, or wound dehiscence, was reported until the first 30 days. Similarly, no postoperative mortality was detected. Moreover, no cases had abortions during their conception time. Conclusion Laparoscopic value exceeds the treatment advantages but has a significant role in diagnosing the etiologies of acute abdomen during pregnancy. Laparoscopy could successfully treat different pathologies during pregnancy. No restriction for the time of conception regarding the use of laparoscopy was reported. Further comparative studies regarding laparoscopic use during pregnancy should be conducted.