BackgroundLaparoscopic appendicectomy has gained wide acceptance as an alternative to open appendicectomy during pregnancy. However, data regarding the safety and optimal surgical approach to appendicitis in pregnancy are still controversial.MethodsThis was a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies comparing laparoscopic and open appendicectomy in pregnancy identified using PubMed and Scopus search engines from January 1990 to July 2011. Two reviewers independently extracted data on fetal loss, preterm delivery, wound infection, duration of operation, hospital stay, Apgar score and birth weight between laparoscopic and open appendicectomy groups.ResultsEleven studies with a total of 3415 women (599 in laparoscopic and 2816 in open group) were included in the analysis. Fetal loss was statistically significantly worse in those who underwent laparoscopy compared with open appendicectomy; the pooled relative risk (RR) was 1·91 (95 per cent confidence interval (c.i.) 1·31 to 2·77) without heterogeneity. The pooled RR for preterm labour was 1·44 (0·68 to 3·06), but this risk was not statistically significant. The mean difference in length of hospital stay was − 0·49 (−1·76 to − 0·78) days, but this was not clinically significant. No significant difference was found for wound infection, birth weight, duration of operation or Apgar score.ConclusionThe available low-grade evidence suggests that laparoscopic appendicectomy in pregnant women might be associated with a greater risk of fetal loss. Copyright © 2012 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Objective. To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of hemoglobin effect on the pregnancy outcomes. Methods. We searched MEDLINE and SCOPUS from January 1, 1990 to April 10, 2011. Observational studies addressing association between hemoglobin and adverse pregnancy outcomes were selected. Two reviewers independently extracted data. A mixed logistic regression was applied to assess the effects of hemoglobin on preterm birth, low birth weight, and small for gestational age. Results. Seventeen studies were included in poolings. Hemoglobin below 11 g/dL was, respectively, 1.10 (95% CI: 1.02–1.19), 1.17 (95% CI: 1.03–1.32), and 1.14 (95% CI: 1.05–1.24) times higher risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, and small for gestational age than normal hemoglobin in the first trimester. In the third trimester, hemoglobin below 11 g/dL was 1.30 (95% CI: 1.08–1.58) times higher risk of low birth weight. Hemoglobin above 14 g/dL in third trimester decreased the risk of preterm term with ORs of 0.50 (95% CI: 0.26–0.97), but it might be affected by publication bias. Conclusions. Our review suggests that hemoglobin below 11 g/dl increases the risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, and small gestational age in the first trimester and the risk of low birth weight in the third trimester.

Our study provides a uniform survey of the immunomodulatory properties of 10 commonly used herbal products and paves the way for testing these effects in vivo and in clinical setting.