Perioperative Medicine Web-Based Curriculum & Reference

PERIOPERATIVE MEDICINE

Web-Based Curriculum & Reference

Editors

Kurt J. Pfeifer, MD, FACP

Steven L. Cohn, MD, FACP

Medical College of Wisconsin

State University of New York - Downstate

Pregnancy

Michael P. Carson, MD & David A. Halle, MD

	SUMMARY
	Nonobstetric surgery can and should be performed when indicated. The indications for surgical intervention are the same for pregnant and non-pregnant patients. The preoperative risk assessment is also essentially the same in pregnant patients as in anyone else. There are a few unique intraoperative and postoperative logistical issues in pregnant patients, and these can be managed through collaboration with anesthesiology and obstetric specialists. Rather than only worrying about the potential risks of a particular test or medication in a pregnant patient, consider what may happen to the mother or fetus if they do not receive that intervention.