Influence of general anesthesia in pregnant patients for gynecologic surgery

BACKGROUND: Surgery during pregnancy is suspected to have various harmful influences to pregnant patients and fetuses. Although laparoscopic surgery has been recently reported to have some advantages over open surgery in this condition, it often requires general anesthesia. METHODS: The influence of general anesthesia was retrospectively investigated in 12 patients having undergone gynecologic surgery during pregnancy in comparison with 18 with surgery under lumbar and epidural anesthesia. RESULTS: Patients receiving general anesthesia required less pain relief compared with those receiving lumbar and epidural anesthesia. Pregnancy was adequately maintained after surgery in all patients. No abortions or preterm deliveries occurred. There was no significant difference in influence on mother and babies between these two patient groups. CONCLUSIONS: General anesthesia during pregnancy is not necessarily associated with harmful influences on mother and babies compared with lumbar and epidural anesthesia if selected appropriately.