[Surgery during pregnancy from a gynecological aspect (author's transl)]

The obstetrician and surgeon have to make a joint decision when considering surgery on pregnant women, since pregnancy complicates diagnosis and therapy. Hollow organs are dilated, circulation is more labile, and infections spread faster in the abdomen. Operative insult and anesthesia are dangerous to the child. When-ever operations can be postponed, they should be performed post partum. Damage from infection and even transitory shock can endanger the child's life as a result of hypoxia, and it may be expelled prematurely. The maturity of the fetus which should be checked by ultrasonics, influences consideration of a caesarean section. Nevertheless, it may be necessary for technical reasons to aid the mother if there is lack of space. The perioperative activities of the uterus and cardiac frequency as well as the beta-adrenergic tocolysis are to be controlled by cardiotocography.