Non-obstetric gynaecologic abdominal surgery during pregnancy

Abstract EN

Pregnancy is the only physiologic condition that is treated in the hospital environment.

All other medical conditions that are treated in such a setting are pathologic.

When a pregnant patient develops a pathologic condition that requires surgical intervention, it is imperative to remember that the lives of two individuals are involved, the mother and the foetus.

In such settings it is essential that the treating surgeon understand the physiologic states of these two individuals as an interdependent symbiotic relationship.

Not only must appropriate maternal care be rendered, prevention of foetal complications is also desirable.

Changing physiology and anatomical landmarks frequently cause confusion and delay in dealing with surgical problems in the pregnant patient.

Both symptoms and signs could be modified, contributing to delay in seeking medical attention, timely referral for surgical evaluation, or the initiation of appropriate diagnostic procedures.

Surgery during pregnancy is an uncommon event, but one that creates a great deal of anxiety for both patients and medical practitioners.

Delays in diagnosis and definitive treatment represent the most significant risk for untoward outcome in both the mother and the foetus.

Laparoscopic surgery has rapidly and widely spread in the management of wide abdominal conditions, which resulted in several significant benefits to the non-gravid patients.

Pregnant patients and their foetuses could drive the same benefits from minimally invasive surgery, which are received by the non-gravidas.

However, due to the several physiological and anatomical factors encountered during pregnancy many issues need to be thought about and dealt with.

Optimal surgical treatment of the pregnant patient will be realized when there is collaboration between the various subspecialties involved in her care.