Hassan, Rayaan Abdirahman (2025) Conservative Treatment of Third Trimester Appendicitis Misdiagnosed as Round Ligament Pain. A Case Report and Review of the Literature in a Resource-Limited Setting. International Journal of Women’s Health.
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Abstract
Introduction: Identifying acute appendicitis during pregnancy is particularly challenging, especially in the third trimester, as its
symptoms may resemble typical gestational discomfort. While surgery remains the standard treatment, conservative treatment is being
considered more often, especially when surgical intervention can pose risks to either the mother or the fetus.
Case Presentation: We report the case of a 30-year-old woman at 33 weeks of gestation who presented with right lower quadrant
pain initially misattributed to round ligament strain. Her condition deteriorated over several days with worsening abdominal pain,
fever, and leukocytosis. Imaging confirmed an acute uncomplicated appendicitis. After multidisciplinary evaluation and counseling,
the patient declined surgery due to concerns over fetal safety. A conservative approach with intravenous antibiotics was initiated,
resulting in complete clinical resolution. The patient delivered a healthy infant at term, without complications or recurrence.
Conclusion: This case demonstrates that conservative management of appendicitis during the third trimester can be a safe and effective
alternative for highly selected patients. This underscores the importance of individualized care, shared decision-making, and close clinical
monitoring, particularly when standard surgical treatment has declined. As the conversation around non-operative strategies evolves, this
case adds meaningful support for expanding tailored management options during pregnancy in resource-limited settings.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | A General Works > AC Collections. Series. Collected works |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Medicine |
| Depositing User: | Unnamed user with email crd@smiad.edu.so |
| Date Deposited: | 20 Sep 2025 07:40 |
| Last Modified: | 20 Sep 2025 07:40 |
| URI: | https://repository.simad.edu.so/id/eprint/219 |
