Laparoscopic Surgery During Pregnancy

The advantages of laparoscopic surgery are similar for pregnant and nonpregnant women; nevertheless, this procedure was avoided during pregnancy because of concerns that it may be harmful to the fetus. Within the last decade, however, multiple case reports and case series describing the safe performance of laparoscopic procedures in pregnant patients have been published, resulting in a paradigm shift. Appendicitis, gallbladder disease, mesenteric cysts, and adnexal masses/torsion have been successfully managed laparoscopically during pregnancy. More advanced laparoscopic procedures, such as radical nephrectomy, splenectomy, salpingectomy, adrenalectomy, retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy, and ventral hernia repair, have also been reported in gravid patients. This topic will discuss issues specific to laparoscopic surgery during pregnancy. Discussions of laparoscopic surgery in the general population and specific laparoscopic procedures can be found separately.