Obstetrical outcomes following laparoscopy during pregnancy: a retrospective case-control study

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Background:

• Laparoscopic procedures are increasingly performed during pregnancy.
• Understanding the impact of these surgeries on pregnancy outcomes is crucial for clinical decision-making.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate pregnancy outcomes in patients who undergo laparoscopy during pregnancy.
• To compare outcomes between pregnant patients who had laparoscopy and those who did not.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective case-control study matched 232 pregnant patients who underwent laparoscopy (4-28 weeks gestation) with 463 controls without surgery.
• Outcomes assessed included preterm birth, cesarean section, small for gestational age, and Apgar scores.
• Matching was based on maternal age, parity, and multiple gestation.

Main Results:

• Laparoscopy during pregnancy was associated with a higher rate of cesarean sections (32.3% vs. 24.6%, adjusted OR=1.9).
• No significant differences were observed in preterm birth rates (12.1% vs. 10.4%).
• Subgroup analysis indicated that operation duration and hospitalization length did not correlate with adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Laparoscopy in pregnancy may be linked to an increased cesarean section rate.
• No increased risk for other pregnancy or neonatal complications was identified.
• Perioperative parameters did not predict adverse pregnancy outcomes.