Laparoscopic surgery during pregnancy

Area of Science:

• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• General Surgery

Background:

• Laparoscopic surgery offers significant advantages over open procedures, including reduced morbidity and faster recovery.
• Its application during pregnancy is growing, with laparoscopic cholecystectomy being the most common procedure.
• Other gynecological and general surgery procedures are also being performed laparoscopically in pregnant patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current literature on the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic surgery during pregnancy.
• To assess the benefits and potential risks associated with these procedures in pregnant patients.
• To determine the need for further research in this evolving surgical field.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive review of English-language literature from the past decade was conducted.
• Studies focusing on laparoscopic procedures performed during pregnancy were analyzed.
• Data on safety, complication rates, and outcomes were synthesized.

Main Results:

• Laparoscopic surgery is increasingly utilized in pregnant patients for various gynecological and general surgical conditions.
• Common procedures include laparoscopic cholecystectomy, management of adnexal masses, and appendectomy.
• Potential risks include uterine injury, technical challenges due to uterine growth, and physiological changes affecting maternal-fetal circulation and CO2 absorption.

Conclusions:

• Current evidence suggests that laparoscopic surgery can be performed safely during pregnancy.
• However, the available data are limited by the number of cases and lack of prospective studies.
• Further research is essential to establish definitive safety profiles and precise complication rates for laparoscopic surgery in pregnancy.