Fertility and long-term complications four to nine years after appendectomy during pregnancy.

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to determine the long-term outcome after an appendectomy during pregnancy, especially focusing on fertility.

METHODS

The Danish National Registry of Patients identified 117 pregnant women who had had an appendectomy during the period 1980 to 1985. One hundred-and-one of these women answered a questionnaire designed to focus on long-term complications, including infertility, during a 4 to 9 year period after the appendectomy. More than a 2-year attempt to conceive was defined as infertility.

RESULTS

Of the 101 women 15 with a normal appendix had a new intraperitoneal operation due to different indications. Three of these women had intraperitoneal adhesions. In one patient, adhesions were located on the Fallopian Tube but the location did not influence fertility. Five of the 101 women complained of infertility as defined; all had a normal appendix and none had intraperitoneal surgery during the observation period. Two of these five women conceived later during the observation period; one had confounding female and male infertility factors and two were not examined.

CONCLUSIONS

Appendectomy during pregnancy of a normal, inflamed or perforated appendix does not seem to cause clinically significant intraperitoneal adhesions or infertility later in life.