Surgery during pregnancy and fetal outcome

Technical Report · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:6878058

Brodsky, J B; Cohen, E N; Brown, B W; Wu, M L; Whitcher, C

Information was sought on wives of dentists or female dental assistants who underwent surgery during their pregnancies to determine the effects of anesthesia and surgery on fetal outcome. Occupational exposure to inhalation anesthetics either directly (dental assistants) or indirectly (wives of exposed male dentists) was associated with a significant increase in spontaneous abortion rate over a comparison group during both trimesters. Anesthesia for surgery was also associated with increased fetal loss when administered during the first or second trimesters. The number of congenital abormalities in children born to women who had surgery during pregnancy was not increased. For women surgically exposed to anesthetics and occupationally exposed as well, either directly or indirectly, the risk of spontaneous abortion increased almost threefold above control lvels. The authors conclude that elective surgery should be deferred during early pregnanacy to minimize potential fetal loss.

• Research Organization: Stanford Univ., CA (USA). Dept. of Anesthesia
• OSTI ID: 6878058
• Report Number(s): PB-88-248315/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
SURGERY
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