Appendectomy During Pregnancy and the Risk of Preterm Birth: A Systematic Review of Contemporary Clinical Studies.

ABSTRACT: Background and Objectives: Appendectomy is the most frequent non-obstetric emergency operation in pregnancy, yet its relationship with preterm birth (PTB) remains uncertain. We systematically reviewed studies assessing PTB after appendectomy during pregnancy, focusing on surgical approach and histopathology. Methods: Following a PRISMA-guided protocol, we searched PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science to 1 October 2025 for studies reporting gestational-age outcomes after appendectomy in pregnancy. Eligible designs were cohort or case-control studies and case series ≥ 5 pregnancies. Data on technique, timing, pathology, and PTB were extracted and synthesized narratively; meta-analysis was not performed because of heterogeneity. Results: Six studies including over one thous

SUBMITTER: Costescu S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12842138 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature