Pregnant Women Are Often Victims of Misdiagnosed Appendicitis

According to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, pregnant women are at risk of being misdiagnosed with appendicitis and undergoing unnecessary procedures, known as appendectomies. When the appendix is removed, there is a danger of going into early delivery and losing the baby.

Many health experts have asked the question as to why misdiagnosed appendicitis is still occurring, even with all of the medical advancements. Appendectomy is one of the most commonly performed surgeries in the United States. Women are more prone to misdiagnosed appendicitis, and account for 23.2 percent of these cases. Many of these women have surgery that is not needed.

Pregnant women are especially susceptible to misdiagnosed appendicitis because the symptoms of this illness are very similar to the side effects of pregnancy. Surgeons tend to be aggressive in treating appendicitis due to the risk of the patient suffering from a ruptured appendix.

Researchers reviewed data from 94,789 women who had an appendectomy, 3,133 of whom were pregnant at the time. It was discovered that the rate of having an appendectomy without a diagnosis of simple or complicated appendicitis was higher in pregnant women than women who were not pregnant. The rate for pregnant women was 23 percent. Among the pregnant women who had an appendectomy, 11 percent went into early delivery or lost the fetus.

The study shows the need for more accurate diagnosis of appendicitis to avoid unnecessary procedures and the possibility of fetal loss. If you have suffered from misdiagnosed appendicitis, you should contact an experienced Louisville medical malpractice lawyer who can provide you with information regarding your legal rights. You could be entitled to compensation from the negligent doctor who misdiagnosed your medical condition and caused you harm. Contact Gray and White Law today at 1-502-210-8942 or 1-800-634-8767 for a free legal consultation.