TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A team at Miaoli’s Da Chien General Hospital performed a C-section and removed the appendix of a 26-year-old woman who was 39 weeks pregnant in a single surgery.

Lin Jing-wang (林敬旺), an obstetrician at the hospital, said the woman’s prenatal checkups showed no issues. She sought medical attention after experiencing significant abdominal pain for two days and was diagnosed with acute appendicitis, per CNA.

The woman had an elevated white blood cell count but showed no signs of imminent labor. To reduce the risk of harming the baby during the appendectomy, the team performed a C-section first, Lin said.

During the procedure, Lin said the woman’s appendix was severely swollen and filled with pus, with a risk of rupture. Fluid had also accumulated in her abdominal cavity.

The team delivered the baby without infection and managed the surgical wound to ensure it would not affect the subsequent appendectomy. The woman received antibiotics after giving birth and has fully recovered.

Lin said treating appendicitis during pregnancy is complex, as doctors must consider the health of the mother and the baby. The approach also varies depending on the stage of pregnancy.

He said that if the fetus is not yet viable, doctors would remove the appendix and give the mother antibiotics. The fetus would be monitored after surgery to prevent infection, which could lead to sepsis.

Lin added that if a pregnant woman is between 20 and 37 weeks and gives birth, the baby will require care for prematurity. If the baby is not delivered, an appendectomy carries a risk of infection to the fetus.

According to Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, delayed treatment of appendicitis leading to a ruptured appendix can raise the risk of fetal death to 35%. It can also cause premature birth or severe infection in the mother.