A Pregnant Lady Undergoing Bariatric Surgery.

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Endocrinology
• Bariatric Surgery Outcomes
• Obesity Medicine

Background:

• Morbidly obese patients are candidates for bariatric surgery to improve health outcomes.
• Pre-operative screening typically includes a negative pregnancy test to minimize risks.

Observation:

• A 34-year-old woman with a BMI of 49.5 kg/m² underwent sleeve gastrectomy.
• Pre-operative blood tests, including beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG), were negative.
• Post-operatively, amenorrhea led to repeat testing, revealing a positive β-hCG.

Findings:

• The patient was found to be 14 weeks pregnant during an ultrasound examination.
• This indicates pregnancy was present at the time of bariatric surgery, despite initial negative screening.

Implications:

• Highlights the critical need for accurate pre-operative pregnancy screening in women of reproductive age undergoing bariatric procedures.
• Suggests potential limitations of standard pregnancy tests in early gestation or specific physiological states.
• Underscores the importance of considering pregnancy in the differential diagnosis of amenorrhea post-surgery.