Postpartum acute appendicitis

Abstract

A 28-year-old woman, gravida 1 para 1, presented to the obstetrics department with pelvic pain and intermittent fever. Body temperature was 38.9 degrees C. Widespread abdominal sensitivity and rebound were observed on physical examination. C-Reactive Protein was elevated to 31.1 mg/dl and White Blood Cell count remained at 11,000/mm(3). The diameter of the appendix was measured as about 8.1 cm on Computed Tomography. Diagnostic laparoscopy was performed and appendectomy was done because of acute appendicitis. Postpartum appendicitis is a very rare condition and only a few cases have been reported in the literature however acute appendicitis has to be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis.