NON-OBSTETRICAL SURGICAL EMERGENCIES IN PREGNANCY: DOUBLE TROUBLE

Background: Non-obstetrical surgical emergencies in pregnancy, though uncommon, can be life-threatening for both mother and fetus. Physiological changes during pregnancy often obscure clinical signs, leading to delays in diagnosis and management. Appendicitis, biliary disease, intestinal obstruction, trauma, and burns constitute the majority of such emergencies. To Objective: evaluate the incidence, spectrum, and fetomaternal outcomes of non-obstetrical surgical emergencies in pregnancy. This retrospective Methods: observational study was conducted at MGM Medical College and Hospital, Kamothe, Navi Mumbai, over five years (August 2020 –August 2025). Records of pregnant women admitted with surgical emergencies were reviewed. Obstetric complications, adnexal pathology, and orthopedic emergencies were excluded. Data on demographics, diagnosis, management, and outcomes were analyzed descriptively. Results: Out of 10,732 pregnancies, 45 cases of non-obstetrical surgical emergencies were identified, giving an overall incidence of 1 in 228 pregnancies (0.419%). Appendicitis was the most frequent condition (12 cases, 1 in 894; 0.112%), followed by biliary disease (8 cases, 1 in 1342; 0.075%), burns and intestinal obstruction (7 cases each, 1 in 1533; 0.065%), peritonitis (5 cases, 1 in 2146; 0.047%), and trauma and others (3 cases each, 1 in 3577; 0.028%). The majority of cases occurred in the second (33.3%) and third trimesters (48.9%). There were 5 maternal deaths (0.047%), mainly due to burns and peritonitis, and 2 fetal deaths (0.084%), most commonly associated with burns. Non-obstetrical surgical Conclusion: emergencies, though rare, are clinically significant in pregnancy. Appendicitis was the most common condition, while burns and peritonitis contributed to the highest maternal and fetal mortality. Early recognition, timely surgical intervention, and multidisciplinary care are critical to improving fetomaternal outcomes