Acute appendicitis in pregnancy and the occurrence of major intraventricular hemorrhage and periventricular leukomalacia

Abstract

Infection and endotoxemia have been associated with neurologic injury in the newborn. In addition, recent reports have noted an increased incidence of fetal neurologic injury in the presence of intrauterine infection. Three pregnancies complicated by acute appendicitis and refractory preterm labor resulting in the delivery of neonates who developed early major intraventricular hemorrhage and/or periventricular leukomalacia are described. We hypothesize that extrauterine infections like acute appendicitis may play a role in the occurrence of neonatal neurologic injury.