Surgery During Pregnancy 2025-Surgery During Pregnancy

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Brian Gasson discusses non-obstetric surgery during pregnancy, noting that 1-2% of pregnancies require such procedures annually in the U.S. Common surgeries include laparoscopic procedures, appendectomies, and cholecystectomies, while oncologic and trauma surgeries are less frequent. Ideally, surgery is postponed until after pregnancy; however, most are urgent, necessitating careful timing and anesthetic considerations. The second trimester is preferred for surgery due to reduced risks of preterm labor and organogenesis completion. Anesthesia during pregnancy involves understanding altered physiology, potential teratogenicity, and fetal risks such as preterm labor and placental perfusion issues. Safe strategies include managing maternal hyperventilation, maintaining uteroplacental perfusion, and minimizing exposure to potentially harmful drugs like nitrous oxide. Gasson emphasizes collaboration with medical teams for planning fetal monitoring, timing, and surgical/anesthetic approaches to ensure both maternal and fetal safety.

Keywords

non-obstetric surgery

pregnancy

anesthesia

second trimester

fetal monitoring

maternal safety