Abdominal Surgery in Pregnancy and Care of the Pregnant Patient

Abstract

During pregnancy, surgical intervention may be required for reasons that are not related to pregnancy but are frequently seen. Diseases that require surgical intervention for non-obstetric reasons during pregnancy include acute appendicitis, acute pancreatitis, cholecystitis, trauma, and intestinal obstruction. The incidence of non-obstetric surgical interventions during pregnancy is reported as 1% or 2%. Physiological changes during pregnancy require a significantly different approach both in the diagnosis and treatment processes. Physiological, biochemical, anatomical, and immunological changes should be considered to ensure an accurate and fast diagnosis and treatment. Furthermore, it should be kept in mind that late diagnosis may lead to maternal morbidity, mortality, fetal loss, and the risk of premature birth. Balancing the health and well-being of the fetus against the mother’s need for surgical intervention is a most important focus of care. In a surgical intervention during pregnancy, the risks involved for the mother and the baby vary depending on the type of intervention needed, the trimester of the pregnancy in question, and the health status of the mother and the fetus. A multidisciplinary teamwork as well as preliminary evaluations and preparations are essential to ensure optimal safety for both the mother and the fetus. The aim of this study is to provide information for midwives and nurses on various diagnoses requiring surgical procedures during pregnancy albeit unrelated to pregnancy, on the differences in diagnosis and treatment processes due to physiological changes in pregnancy, and the nursing care of pregnant patients before, during, and after surgery.

Keywords

• general surgery
• nursing care
• pregnancy
• pregnant women
• surgery