Abstract
Three cases one of them fatal of betamimet-ic “resistant” premature labor with coincident acute appendicitis are presented. These case histories support the opinion held by the authors that in the recent era of widespread use of betamimetics, during the second and third trimester, appendicitis can be concealed by increased uterine contractility which could be secondary to the intra-abdominal inflammatory process or triggered by genuine premature motor activity of the myometrium. We consider that the obstetrician should revise his decision regarding betamimet-ic treatment on the basis of continuous observation. There is a clinical message in these cases which should be incorporated into the decision-making process: if a patient presents herself with premature labor, betamimetics should not be given before the diagnosis has been established.