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Laparoscopic surgery during pregnancy
1Department of Surgery, Deaconess Hospital, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
Background:
Laparoscopic surgery is known for its many advantages, but the use of this modality during pregnancy is still under discussion.
Methods:
The subjects in this discussion are the unknown influence of the pneumoperitoneum and the fear of damaging the uterus while inserting the Veress needle and trocars. In a review of recent literature describing laparoscopic surgery during pregnancy, no complications were seen. We performed four laparoscopic appendectomies and three laparoscopic cholecystectomies between 12 and 33 weeks estimated gestational age (EGA).
Results:
All pregnancies passed without complications and ended in at-term deliveries of healthy babies.
Conclusions:
The risks, precautions to avoid them, and the safety of laparoscopic surgery during pregnancy are discussed in the light of our experience and reports in recent literature.