Consequences of anesthesia during pregnancy

Medical statistics show that 2% of expectant mothers need surgical interventions using anesthesia. Most often these are operations in dentistry during dental treatment, general surgery (appendectomy, cholecystectomy) and traumatology. Pregnant women are worried about their teeth, and injuries also occur, which can only be dealt with through surgery and anesthesia. And although 2% of statistics is a low figure, any woman who is preparing to become a mother can fall into this number. Therefore, it would be useful to find out whether anesthesia is dangerous during pregnancy, what types of anesthesia are used and what drugs are used during this period.

General anesthesia during pregnancy

Today there are no absolutely harmless anesthetic drugs. All drugs in this category have their own toxicity threshold. It can be high or low, and this criterion determines the admissibility of their use during pregnancy. The toxicity threshold also depends on the dose of the anesthetic drug. It is calculated by the anesthesiologist in each specific case during surgery. A correctly selected dose of anesthetic allows you to euthanize the patient, relax all the muscles of the body, and make her insensitive to pain during the surgical procedure. When the anesthesia wears off, the patient “wakes up.”

Pregnant women should know that in the first and second trimesters, anesthetic drugs pose a higher danger to the baby than to the mother. Especially if they are used in the early stages before 8 weeks of pregnancy. After all, during this period the main organs of the child are formed. And anesthetics penetrate the placenta and inhibit cell development. Thus, the risk of congenital deformities increases. Doctors call this a teratogenic effect. Therefore, at this time, general anesthesia is not used, and if it is possible to avoid the operation or postpone it to a later date, then this is exactly what they do.

Most painkillers used during surgery have a low toxicity threshold. It is also worth noting that it is not the drug itself that plays a major role in the subsequent development of deviations, but the technique of general anesthesia. It is important to prevent your blood pressure and oxygen levels from dropping quickly during surgery.

Various drugs are used for general anesthesia in pregnant women. Promedol, Morphine and Glycopyrolate in minimal doses do not harm the fetus or mother. Ketamine is used for intravenous anesthesia. But this remedy, when used for a long time, increases the tone of the uterus.

Often, expectant mothers need to relieve acute pain, for example, toothache. Is it possible to administer anesthesia with tablets in this case? Experts say that you can resort to them only in extreme cases. Non-hazardous drugs for pregnant women are Ibuprofen and Paracetamol. Other anesthetics are prohibited.

General anesthesia contraindications during pregnancy

Did you know that approximately two out of a hundred women in an interesting situation are prescribed surgical interventions for various indications, which means that anesthesia will be inevitable?
Are you one of this number, so you want to know how dangerous it is to do anesthesia during pregnancy, what risks it can pose to you and your baby? Then this article will be very useful for you.

When might anesthesia be needed during pregnancy?

In fact, there are many indications for surgical interventions under anesthesia during pregnancy, for example:

  1. Emergency operations for conditions that threaten the life of the mother (removal of ovarian cysts, appendicitis, breast tumors, removal of the gallbladder);
  2. Dental anesthesia during pregnancy for the treatment of pulpitis, tooth extraction (find out from the article how safe is dental anesthesia during pregnancy?>>>);
  3. The need to apply retaining sutures to the cervix;
  4. Operations for fractures.

Some of these interventions are possible with local anesthesia, others will require general anesthesia.

At the same time, doctors agree that, unless absolutely necessary, it is better to move the intervention to the second trimester, when the main organs and systems of the baby are already formed, so the risks of anesthesia during pregnancy at this stage are minimal.

How dangerous is anesthesia for a pregnant woman or baby?

Long-term statistical studies show that, provided maximum precaution is taken, there are not many risks when using anesthesia during pregnancy.

  • The main danger lies in anesthesia in the early stages of pregnancy, when the negative effect of drugs on the fetus cannot be compensated for by placental protection, and organs and systems are still being formed (learn how the baby grows and develops during pregnancy from the article Development of the child in the womb >>>);
  • In the third trimester, under the influence of anesthesia, the risk of premature birth may be increased. This is why the second trimester is optimal;

In many ways, the safety for a pregnant woman from operations performed under anesthesia depends on the qualifications of the doctors, the drugs used for anesthesia, and the availability of the operating room with the necessary equipment. At the same time, maintaining pregnancy is the main task for surgeons and anesthesiologists.

We can also reassure you with some scientific research data:

  1. Mortality during anesthesia in pregnant women is comparable to mortality in healthy women;
  2. The likelihood of abnormalities occurring in the fetus is also approximately equal to that of women who have not been exposed to anesthesia;
  3. Modern technologies make it possible to perform many types of operations during pregnancy using local anesthesia, which is considered less harmful;
  4. The probability of miscarriage when using anesthesia does not exceed 6% (or 11 - if the intervention was carried out for up to 8 weeks. Learn about the development of the baby and changes in the mother’s body during this period from the article 1st trimester of pregnancy>>>).

An important role during surgery in pregnant women is played by such factors as the selection of the correct anesthesia, as well as ensuring stable blood pressure and oxygen saturation during the operation.

Doctors pay top priority to these issues. Because, otherwise, negative consequences are possible:

  • Disturbances in the functioning of the baby’s organs and systems;
  • Possible fetal asphyxia;
  • Possible increase in uterine tone, which can lead to miscarriage.

Keep in mind! Drugs containing adrenaline, if they enter the blood of a pregnant woman, can cause disruption of placental blood flow, and therefore lead to complications. Therefore, if you need dental anesthesia during pregnancy, you should avoid a drug such as ultracaine. It just contains adrenaline.

To minimize risks, they try to use general anesthesia only in the most extreme cases, and it is carried out using the most gentle drugs.

  1. For example, using multicomponent anesthesia, in which the concentration of each of its components is extremely low, but together they have the desired effect;
  2. Or anesthesia, which does not penetrate the placental barrier and does not reach the fetus.

After the operation, the pregnant woman will undergo special therapy that will reduce the excitability of the uterus and the risk of premature miscarriage. Therefore, even general anesthesia during pregnancy today is quite safe for the mother and her child.

What then?

So, the operation was successful. Again, nothing threatens your life and the baby, as doctors say, is developing normally.

But how does anesthesia affect pregnancy? What can happen to a child after undergoing anesthesia when he is born? What if he develops anomalies or deformities? Or will mental abnormalities be discovered?

Your anxiety is quite understandable, because your first and main concern is that everything is fine with your baby. We hasten to reassure you here too.

Numerous studies indicate that a child who has undergone anesthesia in utero will in the future be no different from his peers in either physical, mental, or mental development.

However, if you are one of the particularly anxious mothers, then you need to worry about the baby’s health in advance.

  • Even at the stage of pregnancy planning, you need to eliminate all possibilities for using anesthesia during pregnancy;
  • An extensive examination will be required, and, if necessary, treatment of diseased organs;
  • It is important to treat, remove or prosthetize all problem teeth in order to avoid their treatment or removal when carrying a child.

In general, it is important to do this to minimize the likelihood of any exacerbations that may require anesthesia and surgery in the future.

And you won't need anesthesia. After all, its absence, in any case, will add peace of mind to you, and therefore health to you and your child.

Source: https://barhmel.ru/obshhij-narkoz-protivopokazanija-pri-beremennosti/

What anesthesia is used during pregnancy

If possible, the expectant mother is given epidural (regional) anesthesia. If this type of anesthesia cannot be used, then multicomponent balanced anesthesia with artificial ventilation is performed. In this case, a special tube is used that is inserted into the trachea.

Epidural anesthesia is the safest method of pain relief for the expectant mother and fetus. To carry it out, a needle is inserted through an opening in the spinal canal. The injection area is called the epidural space. There are nerve roots that carry pain impulses from the uterus. Before inserting the needle, the skin at the injection site is numbed. A catheter (silicone tube) is inserted into the needle, through which the local anesthetic is injected. The medicine can be added if necessary, thus prolonging the effect of anesthesia up to 36 hours.

The analgesic effect after the administration of the anesthetic occurs within 10-20 minutes. It is worth noting that a woman may feel a shooting sensation in her leg when the catheter is inserted.

The following complications occur after epidural anesthesia:

  1. Headache. It can occur in a pregnant woman a day after the use of anesthesia.
  2. Skin itching. It occurs purely at the site of needle insertion. Treat it if necessary with antihistamines.
  3. Difficulty breathing. This complication develops due to the patient being on her back for a long time. In this case, oxygen is supplied through a special mask.
  4. Dizziness, rapid heartbeat, numbness of the tongue, metallic taste in the mouth. These signs may occur at the time of administration of the anesthetic. To avoid such sensations, a test dose is given to the woman before the full volume of the medicine is administered.

There are a number of contraindications for epidural anesthesia. These are bleeding disorders, sepsis, bleeding, skin infection at the site of catheter insertion, neurological diseases, and patient refusal.

If we are talking about simple surgical interventions in the third trimester, then it is possible to use mask anesthesia. In this case, the anesthetic enters the pregnant woman’s body through the respiratory system.

Another type of pain relief is nitrous oxide, used by inhalation. That is, again, a mask is used. It is worth noting that this type of anesthesia can harm the development of the baby. But in low concentrations (the ratio of oxygen and nitrogen is 1:1) and for a short time, this type of anesthesia is still used. A low nitrogen concentration does not have a negative effect. It induces deep sleep and relaxes muscles.

Local anesthesia during pregnancy

Most often it is used by the dentist. A drug-free method of pain relief is cooling. A liquid with a low boiling point is applied to part of the gum. Cooling occurs quickly: the nerve fibers lose sensitivity - and the dentist performs therapeutic manipulations.

Dentists can also use topical anesthesia to treat pregnant women. In this case, the medicine also does not enter the general bloodstream. An anesthetic gel is applied to the mucous membrane in the desired location. It blocks nerve endings.

For local anesthesia in expectant mothers, the drugs Mepivastezin, Ultracaine and Ultracaine DS are used. The latter is designed specifically for pregnant women and children. It has almost no side effects. Dentists in most cases prefer Ultracain DS. Its advantage is also that it is quickly eliminated from the female body. It is equally important that the drug cannot penetrate the placental barrier. A gentle local anesthetic drug is Ubistezin with epinephrine - it does not harm the fetus or its mother.

Anesthesia during pregnancy and pregnancy after anesthesia

Health problems can occur for anyone. Pregnant women are not immune from this: they, like anyone else, may experience an exacerbation of a chronic disease, requiring urgent surgery, or acute appendicitis; injury or severe toothache will also force you to consult a surgeon. And if you have surgery, then you need to use anesthesia. And of course, the expectant mother is very concerned about whether this is harmful to the baby. What to do and what to do to minimize the risks for the child?

What are the dangers of anesthesia during pregnancy?

Firstly, anesthetics, like other drugs, can be teratogenic, that is, cause developmental abnormalities and deformities of the fetus. Secondly, during anesthesia, the mother may develop hypoxia (oxygen deficiency), and the child may die due to lack of oxygen. And thirdly, with anesthesia there is a high probability of increased uterine tone, which threatens miscarriage or premature birth. This all sounds scary, but in fact the statistics say the opposite. Here's some data:

  • mortality due to anesthesia in expectant mothers is no higher than in non-pregnant mothers;
  • the frequency of congenital malformations in children whose mothers were subjected to a single anesthesia is similar to that in other children;
  • when performing operations in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters, the risk of fetal death is 6%, with earlier intervention – 11%;
  • the probability of premature birth due to anesthesia does not exceed 8%.

Surgeries during pregnancy are performed only for emergency indications. Of course, if possible, it is advisable to undergo surgery and wait until the baby is born. If this is not possible, then the duration of pregnancy must be taken into account. The most dangerous time for anesthesia is from the 2nd to the 8th week inclusive, when the child’s organs and systems are developing. At a late stage - from the 28th week until birth, there is a threat of premature labor. Doctors recommend performing the operation from the 14th to the 28th week.

The type of anesthesia also matters. The safest is local anesthesia. But when using it, it is advisable not to use anesthetics containing adrenaline, since, once it enters the bloodstream, it can lead to disruption of blood flow to the placenta.

If the operation cannot be performed under local anesthesia, regional anesthesia is recommended. And only as a last resort, if other types of anesthesia cannot be used, surgery is performed under anesthesia (general anesthesia).

Most specialists - gynecologists and reproductive specialists are confident that anesthesia is completely safe for future pregnancy. But there is another point of view. So, today it is already recognized by everyone that planning a pregnancy increases the chances of having a healthy baby. 1–3 months before conception, it is recommended to switch to a healthy lifestyle: eat right, follow a work and rest schedule, exercise, avoid alcohol and smoking, and avoid stress.

But anesthesia also means a lot of stress for the body, and besides, narcotic drugs that are far from harmless are used during anesthesia. Thus, nitrous oxide inhibits the functioning of the enzyme responsible for DNA. When such a violation occurs in the egg, it mutates. If she is subsequently fertilized, then the risk of a genetic abnormality in the unborn child will be quite high. Since the development period of an egg is about 4 months, it would probably be correct to plan a pregnancy 4 months after the anesthesia, when new eggs that have not been exposed to anesthetics have developed in the body.

Is anesthesia harmful during pregnancy: consequences, impact on the fetus

So, let us remind you that operations and anesthesia during pregnancy are performed only for emergency indications, if there is a threat to the woman’s life. If surgical intervention can be delayed until the baby is born, then this is done in order to eliminate the slightest risk of a negative impact on the fetus.

Experts analyzed the practical experience of administering anesthesia to pregnant women and came to the following conclusions:

  1. Mortality during anesthesia is very low. The number of deaths during pregnancy is the same as for ordinary women.
  2. The chance of miscarriage or fetal death is about 11% if a woman is given anesthesia in the first trimester of pregnancy.
  3. The risk of premature birth after the introduction of painkillers is about 8%.

Research has cast doubt on the negative effects on the fetus of the historically dangerous drugs diazepam and nitrous oxide. There is an opinion that during pregnancy it is necessary to avoid the use of local anesthetics containing adrenaline, because they can cause disruption of blood flow to the placenta.

So, local and general anesthesia during surgery during pregnancy are quite safe for the mother’s health. But significant harm can be caused to the baby if the operations are performed in the early stages - in the first trimester of pregnancy. Decisions on the advisability of their implementation should be made carefully, taking into account the individual characteristics of the woman’s body and the course of her pregnancy.

It is recommended to give preference to local anesthesia whenever possible. If it cannot be used for some reason, then the choice is made in favor of the epidural. And only if it is not possible to perform regional anesthesia, surgery is performed under general anesthesia.

The expectant mother should protect herself as much as possible from injuries, avoid places dangerous for injury and fast driving. Even before an interesting situation occurs, you should think about the condition of those organs and systems where surgical intervention may be necessary, and undergo an examination in advance, in particular, a medical examination at the dentist).

Take care of yourself, avoid even minimal risks while pregnant!

According to medical statistics, only 2% of pregnant women face the need for anesthesia. There can be many reasons for this: developed appendicitis, a bone fracture, a cyst, or the need to remove a diseased tooth. We will talk about the safest medications and how to reduce the risk of unpleasant consequences.

Anesthesia in early pregnancy: pros and cons

According to statistics, from 3% to 5% of women need surgical treatment while carrying a child. Therefore, anesthesia during early pregnancy is relevant for anesthesiologists. Many expectant mothers are also concerned about this problem.

Any operation and its anesthesia are a stressful situation for the human body, a direct intervention in the biochemistry and physiology of the processes occurring in it. If the operation is performed during pregnancy, the woman worries not only about her fate, but also about the unborn child. What is the likelihood of negative consequences of anesthesia for the intrauterine development of the fetus?

Consequences of surgery and anesthesia for a pregnant woman and unborn child

The most dangerous for the fetus are the first 10 - 12 weeks of pregnancy and the last trimester.

In the early stages, the formation of organs and systems of the future person occurs, the mother’s body is rebuilt to function in new conditions.

The last weeks of pregnancy are dangerous due to the possibility of premature birth and intrauterine fetal death. One of the reasons for such complications may be surgery and the anesthesia associated with it.

Modern medicine has long developed methods to help pregnant women who need surgical intervention.

According to modern canons, an operation in the initial period of bearing a child is possible only if there are emergency indications, if the disease threatens the woman’s life.

This may include various injuries, a catastrophe in the abdominal cavity, problems with the urinary system of the expectant mother. Dentistry is considered a separate topic.

The main organ connecting the body of a young woman and the fetus is the placenta. This is where oxygen and nutrients are transferred to the unborn baby, and waste products are excreted. For many medications, one of the characteristics is permeability through the placental barrier; drugs for anesthesia or local anesthesia will not be an exception. Most drugs used in anesthesiology do not pose a direct threat to the expectant mother and fetus, but their effect on the child’s body depends entirely on the dose and correctness of anesthesia. It is necessary to avoid as much as possible hypotension and hypoxia in a woman during surgery, as this can cause a deterioration in placental blood flow.

Some drugs have historically been considered dangerous during anesthesia in early pregnancy. These include:

  • nitrous oxide,
  • diazepam,
  • sibazon,
  • various inhalational anesthetics.

Experts advise avoiding the use of epinephrine during pregnancy, although most local anesthetics for dentistry contain this medication.

Analysis of the work of leading surgical centers allows us to draw the following conclusions about the consequences of anesthesia in pregnant women:

  • When performing surgery and general anesthesia in the first 9 - 10 weeks of pregnancy, the likelihood of miscarriage or intrauterine fetal death increases by 70 - 80% compared to normal pregnant women.
  • With correct and high-quality anesthesia during early pregnancy, the risk of congenital pathology in the unborn child does not exceed 2 - 3% and is almost comparable to the indicators in women who did not undergo surgery during pregnancy.
  • The death of a pregnant woman during surgery or anesthesia is half as common as in ordinary patients. This is explained by a more demanding attitude to medical procedures and the high responsibility of the doctor in the event of maternal mortality.

Types of anesthesia for operations in the early stages of pregnancy

When performing surgery in pregnant women, specialists adhere to several basic principles. First of all, the operation is performed only for health reasons; the woman is advised to postpone any planned surgical intervention until after childbirth.

The choice of type of anesthesia is extremely important. In this case, almost everything depends on the volume of the upcoming intervention and the qualifications of the anesthesiologist.

Most operations in early pregnancy are currently performed under local or regional anesthesia.

Conducting targeted anesthesia allows you to minimize the effect of medications on the body of a woman and her unborn child.

The main techniques are epidural and spinal anesthesia. In the first case, the anesthetic is injected into the area of ​​the plexus of the spinal cord roots, which causes anesthesia in those parts of the body whose nerve endings have been anesthetized. With the spinal method, drugs are injected directly into the cerebrospinal fluid, which leads to total anesthesia of the entire lower half of the body.

A negative feature of such methods is a possible drop in blood pressure in the expectant mother, which can lead to impaired blood circulation in the placenta and a decrease in fetal nutrition.

However, a modern operating room is equipped with a sufficient amount of monitoring equipment, which makes it possible to recognize and eliminate a threat to the health of the mother and child.

Even taking into account the possibility of hemodynamic disturbances, regional anesthesia is the method of choice for operations in pregnant women.

The choice of drugs for such pain relief is quite wide. However, anesthesiologists and dentists have to take into account that most local anesthetics contain epinephrine. The use of ultracaine, bupivocaine, lidocaine and other substances requires appropriate skills and experience in providing first aid in the event of the development of any pathological reactions to their administration.

For some operations, regional anesthesia is insufficient, and then anesthesia is given in the early stages of pregnancy. General anesthesia means turning off the consciousness of the expectant mother for the entire duration of the operation in combination with pain relief.

In medical practice, there are intravenous and inhalation types of anesthesia. However, such methods are practically never used in their pure form.

If general anesthesia is required, then in 90% of cases we are talking about multicomponent intravenous anesthesia with mechanical ventilation. The woman is in a state of medicated sleep, breathing is supported by special equipment. The anesthesiologist and his assistants monitor the condition of all organs and systems of the patient throughout the operation.

Even 10 - 15 years ago, preference for operations on pregnant women was given to inhalation anesthesia. The delivery of medications (fluorotane, narcotan and sevoran) was carried out through a face mask. This type of anesthesia was quite manageable, these medicinal substances minimally entered the fetus’s body and did not have a major impact on the unborn child.

However, the risk of vomiting and the entry of stomach contents into the trachea and lungs of the patient, the possibility of developing aspiration pneumonia and quite severe hypotension forced anesthesiologists to reduce this type of anesthesia as much as possible. And the widespread use of nitrous oxide is simply prohibited for use before 14 weeks of pregnancy due to its high toxicity and critical effects on the fetus.

We recommend reading the article about taking antibiotics early in pregnancy. From it you will learn about diseases that require antibacterial drugs, prohibited drugs for a pregnant woman, and possible threats.

When might anesthesia be needed during pregnancy?

Doctors are unanimous in their opinion: eliminating all existing diseases and strengthening the immune system is the most important point at the stage of planning a child. But sometimes even the most responsible mother can get into trouble, and then, despite her interesting position, the anesthesiologist will have to administer anesthesia. Indications for anesthesia may include:

  • inflammation of the appendix and the need to remove it;
  • cholecystectomy - emergency removal of the gallbladder with a stone in the duct;
  • removal of a tumor or cyst;
  • elimination of isthmic-cervical insufficiency;
  • emergency caesarean section.

Important!
Appendicitis must be removed in a timely manner - otherwise the situation may result in peritonitis, blood poisoning and subsequent fetal death.
After conception, a woman’s body begins to use the resources it receives from food in a new way. For example, calcium is now used as a “building material” to build a child’s skeletal system. If there is not enough of it in the diet, a woman’s teeth become more fragile, the enamel becomes thinner, the root weakens, and in some cases this leads to the need for surgical intervention under general anesthesia:

  • removal of tumors from the tooth root;
  • treatment of deep caries;
  • treatment of pulpitis or periodontitis;
  • surgery on soft mucous tissues of the oral cavity;
  • the need to completely excise the diseased tooth.

When can you plan a pregnancy after general anesthesia?

Married couples are increasingly faced with unplanned pregnancy.
In the modern pace of life, men and women understand responsibility for their decisions and prepare for the birth of a child in advance. After recently undergoing general anesthesia, it is quite reasonable to wonder about the safe time to conceive. Planning a pregnancy is an important and pleasant chore

Many reproductive specialists and gynecologists, in response to the question of how long after general anesthesia you can safely have a child, do not always give unambiguous answers.

With a favorable outcome and gentle anesthetics, anesthesia ceases to affect patients within a few hours after the end of the operation.

Sometimes the operated patient has to take various medications for a long time, which can have a negative effect on the developing fetus.

Every couple should plan a pregnancy after anesthesia taking into account its history. While some partners can start trying to have a baby a few days after surgery, other couples should delay conception for months.

The effect of anesthesia on men and women

Pregnancy must be planned.

This rule is especially relevant today, when medicine has reached unprecedented heights, and the polluted environment and constant stress of the modern lifestyle daily subject men and women to serious tests.

In order for the baby to be healthy and enjoy a full life, his future parents must show maximum responsibility. If conception is planned immediately after anesthesia of one of the partners, it is important to consult a gynecologist and reproductive specialist.

A man and woman planning a pregnancy should give up bad habits, pay close attention to the quality of their diet and spend time in the fresh air every day. If any of them have undergone surgery under general anesthesia in the recent past, they should refrain from conceiving for a while.

A healthy lifestyle is very important when planning a pregnancy

Depending on the surgical intervention undergone, the duration and intensity of postoperative therapy depends, which is often accompanied by long-term use of antibiotics.

Such drugs can affect the morphological and genetic composition of sperm. In this case, it is advisable to delay conception for up to 3 months.

However, if the operation was uncomplicated and was not accompanied by long-term and intensive drug treatment, you can plan a pregnancy 2 or 3 weeks after it.

Surgery varies and affects patients differently, so family planning in the period after surgery under general anesthesia is a strictly individual matter. Only a specialist can say which solution is best for a particular couple.

Pregnancy after surgery

Operations can be as follows:

  • small and large;
  • cavity;
  • multi-stage;
  • emergency or planned.

General anesthesia is used for various surgical procedures

The use of general anesthesia is possible in each of these surgical options. Naturally, the patient’s body experiences varying degrees of stress.

It is impossible to completely predict the effect of anesthesia on the mental and physical state of the patient.

In addition, restoration of full body functions after surgery, in some cases, can take up to several months.

Given the ambiguity of the answer to the question of how many days, weeks or months after surgery under anesthesia you can plan to conceive, in each case you must rely on your doctor’s recommendations. The time during which the specialist advises not to become pregnant can be spent restoring physical strength and strengthening your mental balance.

Postoperative therapy and pregnancy

Only a doctor can help you properly prepare for conception.

If by this time the pregnancy has already occurred, the woman will endanger the fetus and herself, since there will be a need for treatment, which in this case will harm the child.

Competent family planning implies a responsible approach to conception and mandatory consultations with doctors.

This is important even for healthy couples, especially for those where one of the partners has recently undergone surgery under general anesthesia.

Pregnancy is affected not so much by the anesthesia itself as by the complexity of the surgical intervention and subsequent drug therapy. To avoid becoming a slave to your own fears, ask your attending physicians questions about how taking prescribed medications affects your body. There may be cases when the operation is so harmless that after it you can become pregnant within a week.

Optimal timing for conception

In the recent past, highly toxic drugs (nitrous oxide and others) were used as anesthetics during anesthesia, which had a teratogenic effect and negatively affected the reproductive system of the body, both men and women.

It should be understood that germ cells are especially susceptible to the possibility of genetic damage due to medications and anesthetics. For this reason, unless otherwise recommended by your doctor, it is safe to become pregnant no earlier than 4 months after anesthesia.

After general anesthesia, there is no need to rush into pregnancy

This period is relevant if an emergency operation under anesthesia was performed on a woman, for example, during a tourist trip in a country where highly toxic anesthetics are still used.

In 4 months, a new egg, unaffected by drugs, will grow in the body of the expectant mother.

During this period, you can prepare for pregnancy as efficiently as possible: take vitamins, do daily exercises, eat right, get enough sleep and immerse yourself in positive emotions.

Regardless of the reason why a woman needs surgery with anesthesia, she may be concerned about the harmful effects of chemical compounds on her health. If you are planning a pregnancy, then concerns are even more appropriate. The question arises: after general anesthesia, how long before you can get pregnant?

Types of anesthesia

There is no anesthesia without surgery. What types of introduction of a substance into the body exist:

  • inhalation (nitrous oxide, ether, chloroform);
  • non-inhalation (Sombrevin, Sodium oxybutyrate, Propofol).

Agents inhaled during anesthesia penetrate well into all tissues and organs. The teratogenic effect (development of deformities) of nitrous oxide has been proven since 1967.

, especially when used in women in the first trimester of pregnancy. For non-pregnant women, it causes difficulties with conception and pregnancy.

If a woman is already carrying a child, then inhalation anesthesia quickly passes through the placenta and has a depressing effect on the fetus.

Drugs administered intravenously for short-term anesthesia are acceptable for use in pregnant women according to indications, but there are no studies regarding their delayed action.

When performing minor operations, local anesthetic substances (Trimecaine, Lidocaine, Dicaine, Novocaine) are also used. This group of drugs is used in obstetrics for conduction, epidural, spinal and infiltration anesthesia. Procaine, for example, is a very unstable molecule, while others are teratogenic and embryotoxic only in very large doses.

After surgery on the uterus

How long after you can get pregnant after anesthesia associated with gynecological surgery:

  • if laparoscopic myomectomy was performed, then it is optimal to observe contraception for 3-6 months;
  • after hysteroscopy and laparotomy (without opening the uterine cavity), pregnancy should be abstained for 6-8 months;
  • after any other operation, with the opening of the uterine cavity, it takes at least 1 year for the formation of a full-fledged scar.

The prospect of a successful pregnancy after a cesarean section is best discussed with a doctor individually and based on a control ultrasound of the condition of the uterus.

Optimal period after anesthesia

Surgery is highly stressful for the entire body. The anesthetics used can have a pronounced toxic effect on the cardiovascular and excretory systems. The effect of many chemicals on germ cells is still poorly understood and the harmful effects of anesthetics are not fully stated in the scientific world.

Eggs and sperm grow rapidly and mature continuously in adults during the fertile period. For example, a female follicle develops in approximately 120 days.

During this period, the future egg is most susceptible to various genetic damages that cannot be predicted. Therefore, the optimal period after anesthesia, how long after you can get pregnant, is 4 months.

During this period, a new germ cell has time to grow in the woman’s body without being exposed to anesthetic agents.

Planning a pregnancy

Please tell me, it is very difficult to find information on this issue on the Internet:

When can you start getting pregnant after general anesthesia?

At the end of January 2012 there was surgery on the leg (pin) under general anesthesia. Based on the fact that anesthesia does not have a super beneficial effect on the human body, I would like to know how many months later you can start planning/getting pregnant.

There was a fracture, the leg is still healing. At what month does the baby begin to consume calcium from the mother (I still need it for my leg)).

Next August 2013, they will operate on the leg again, pull out the pin, under general anesthesia (it turns out that if I get pregnant now, I give birth in February, I will breastfeed for 6 months, then the operation, after this milk I cannot feed the child).

I am 28 years old and don’t want to wait until next August 2013 + a few more months after surgery under anesthesia. What should I do?

Or I think too badly about anesthesia.

Source: https://rody-beremennost.ru/zachatie/kogda-mozhno-planirovat-beremennost-posle-obshhego-narkoza

What types of drugs are used for anesthesia in pregnant women?

To prevent the anesthetic from harming the expectant mother or her baby, the doctor reduces its dosage to the minimum. For example, Promedol, Glycopyrolate and Morphine are safe in small doses.

Ketamine is also often used, but you need to be careful with it: in large quantities it can cause uterine hypertonicity.

Lidocaine is used for local anesthesia (most often before dental surgery). For many mothers, it causes unreasonable panic that this drug reaches the fetus, being absorbed through the placenta. There is no need to be afraid - the drug is quickly eliminated from the body and does not cause any harm.

Note!
Drugs containing high levels of adrenaline are prohibited.
The substance constricts blood vessels and disrupts blood flow, which negatively affects the condition of the fetus. The type of anesthesia also plays an important role. At the moment, local and epidural anesthesia are considered the safest methods. If they cannot be used for health reasons, the drug is administered using an inhalation mask.

After surgery, the expectant mother will have to undergo treatment with tocolytic drugs. These remedies will help reduce the tone of the uterus and prevent miscarriage or premature birth.

How dangerous is anesthesia for a pregnant woman or baby?

An incorrectly selected anesthetic, incorrect actions by a doctor, a woman’s late request for help, or a combination of these factors can affect the condition of the mother and fetus at any stage of pregnancy:

  • serious fetal impairment/congenital deformities;
  • fetal death due to asphyxia due to maternal hypoxia;
  • miscarriage or premature birth as a result of uterine hypertonicity.

It is most dangerous to use an anesthetic for a period of 2 weeks to 2 months: during this time, all vital organs and systems are formed in the fetus. Any drug or surgical intervention can disrupt these natural processes. In addition, surgery is a serious stress, and most expectant mothers have an extremely unstable emotional background due to hormonal changes.

Also, anesthesia can have an extremely negative impact on the condition of the expectant mother in the third trimester: the pregnant woman’s body is maximally loaded and works in mode of saving all resources. An injection of anesthesia can undermine her condition and cause premature birth.

If there is a need to perform surgery on a pregnant woman, then it is safest to do it between 14 and 28 weeks: the fetus, from the stage of formation of important systems and organs, moves into the stage of active growth. During this period, the uterus does not consistently respond to any external influences.

Here's what medical statistics say:

  • Mortality
    —Anesthesia-related deaths in pregnant women are similar to those in nonpregnant women.
  • Congenital anomalies
    - if anesthesia was performed once, then the risk of pathologies occurring at the stage of intrauterine development is minimal.
  • Fetal death
    - anesthesia performed in the 2nd and 3rd trimester leads to fetal death in only 6% of cases. For up to 2 months - in 11% of cases.
  • Premature birth
    - anesthesia suffered by the mother during pregnancy can provoke premature birth in only 8% of cases.

Important!
Despite the capabilities of modern medicine, anesthesia during pregnancy is carried out only in cases of absolute necessity.

How dangerous is anesthesia during pregnancy?

According to medical statistics, only 2% of pregnant women face the need for anesthesia. There can be many reasons for this: developed appendicitis, a bone fracture, a cyst, or the need to remove a diseased tooth. We will talk about the safest medications and how to reduce the risk of unpleasant consequences.

When might anesthesia be needed during pregnancy?

Doctors are unanimous in their opinion: eliminating all existing diseases and strengthening the immune system is the most important point at the stage of planning a child. But sometimes even the most responsible mother can get into trouble, and then, despite her interesting position, the anesthesiologist will have to administer anesthesia. Indications for anesthesia may include:

  • inflammation of the appendix and the need to remove it;
  • cholecystectomy - emergency removal of the gallbladder with a stone in the duct;
  • removal of a tumor or cyst;
  • elimination of isthmic-cervical insufficiency;
  • emergency caesarean section.

Important! Appendicitis must be removed in a timely manner - otherwise the situation may result in peritonitis, blood poisoning and subsequent fetal death.

After conception, a woman’s body begins to use the resources it receives from food in a new way. For example, calcium is now used as a “building material” to build a child’s skeletal system.

If there is not enough of it in the diet, a woman’s teeth become more fragile, the enamel becomes thinner, the root weakens, and in some cases this leads to the need for surgical intervention under general anesthesia:

  • removal of tumors from the tooth root;
  • treatment of deep caries;
  • treatment of pulpitis or periodontitis;
  • surgery on soft mucous tissues of the oral cavity;
  • the need to completely excise the diseased tooth.

What types of drugs are used for anesthesia in pregnant women?

To prevent the anesthetic from harming the expectant mother or her baby, the doctor reduces its dosage to the minimum. For example, Promedol, Glycopyrolate and Morphine are safe in small doses.

Ketamine is also often used, but you need to be careful with it: in large quantities it can cause uterine hypertonicity.

Lidocaine is used for local anesthesia (most often before dental surgery). For many mothers, it causes unreasonable panic that this drug reaches the fetus, being absorbed through the placenta. There is no need to be afraid - the drug is quickly eliminated from the body and does not cause any harm.

Note! Drugs containing high levels of adrenaline are prohibited. The substance constricts blood vessels and disrupts blood flow, which negatively affects the condition of the fetus.

The type of anesthesia also plays an important role. At the moment, local and epidural anesthesia are considered the safest methods. If they cannot be used for health reasons, the drug is administered using an inhalation mask.

After surgery, the expectant mother will have to undergo treatment with tocolytic drugs. These remedies will help reduce the tone of the uterus and prevent miscarriage or premature birth.

An incorrectly selected anesthetic, incorrect actions by a doctor, a woman’s late request for help, or a combination of these factors can affect the condition of the mother and fetus at any stage of pregnancy:

  • serious fetal impairment/congenital deformities;
  • fetal death due to asphyxia due to maternal hypoxia;
  • miscarriage or premature birth as a result of uterine hypertonicity.

It is most dangerous to use an anesthetic for a period of 2 weeks to 2 months: during this time, all vital organs and systems are formed in the fetus.

Any drug or surgical intervention can disrupt these natural processes.

In addition, surgery is a serious stress, and most expectant mothers have an extremely unstable emotional background due to hormonal changes.

Also, anesthesia can have an extremely negative impact on the condition of the expectant mother in the third trimester: the pregnant woman’s body is maximally loaded and works in mode of saving all resources. An injection of anesthesia can undermine her condition and cause premature birth.

If there is a need to perform surgery on a pregnant woman, then it is safest to do it between 14 and 28 weeks: the fetus, from the stage of formation of important systems and organs, moves into the stage of active growth. During this period, the uterus does not consistently respond to any external influences.

Here's what medical statistics say:

  • Mortality – Death from anesthesia in pregnant women is similar to that in non-pregnant women.
  • Congenital anomalies - if anesthesia was performed once, then the risk of pathologies occurring at the stage of intrauterine development is minimal.
  • Fetal death - anesthesia performed in the 2nd and 3rd trimester leads to fetal death in only 6% of cases. For up to 2 months – in 11% of cases.
  • Premature birth - anesthesia suffered by the mother during pregnancy can provoke premature birth in only 8% of cases.

Important! Despite the capabilities of modern medicine, anesthesia during pregnancy is carried out only in cases of absolute necessity.

How can you reduce the risks of anesthesia?

So, we figured out that in emergency cases anesthesia will be necessary. But how to reduce the risks and possible consequences of drug exposure?

  • Safe anesthesia, taking into account all indications and contraindications. Most doctors use regional, spinal, or inhalational anesthesia to prevent the drug from crossing the placental barrier.
  • Multicomponent anesthesia. The doctor uses several drugs at once in their minimum concentration, which allows him to increase the analgesic effect and reduce the toxic effect at the same time.
  • Spinal anesthesia for caesarean section. Pregnant women face this operation most often. More than 80% of doctors prefer spinal anesthesia, as it prevents the drug from entering the child’s body.

Conclusion

Before sending the patient in position to the surgical table, the doctor conducts a thorough analysis of the situation. If the intervention cannot be postponed in any way and the life of the expectant mother is at stake, the operation will take place as soon as possible using the safest analgesics.

Especially for beremennost.net – Elena Kichak

Source: https://beremennost.net/narkoz-vo-vremya-beremennosti

How can you reduce the risks of anesthesia?

So, we figured out that in emergency cases anesthesia will be necessary. But how to reduce the risks and possible consequences of drug exposure?

  • Safe anesthesia, taking into account all indications and contraindications.
    Most doctors use regional, spinal, or inhalational anesthesia to prevent the drug from crossing the placental barrier.
  • Multicomponent anesthesia.
    The doctor uses several drugs at once in their minimum concentration, which allows him to increase the analgesic effect and reduce the toxic effect at the same time.
  • Spinal anesthesia for caesarean section.
    Pregnant women face this operation most often. More than 80% of doctors prefer spinal anesthesia, as it prevents the drug from entering the child’s body.

Conclusion

Before sending the patient in position to the surgical table, the doctor conducts a thorough analysis of the situation. If the intervention cannot be postponed in any way and the life of the expectant mother is at stake, the operation will take place as soon as possible using the safest analgesics.

Especially for

— Elena Kichak

Is it possible to have dental anesthesia during pregnancy? This is the question every expectant mother asks when she gets into the dentist’s chair.

As you know, any drug, especially one introduced into the body by injection, brings not only benefits, but also some harm. And for a pregnant woman, the danger is higher due to the possible adverse effects of medications on the child’s body. This article discusses the issues of local anesthesia during pregnancy, the choice of anesthetics and methods of pain relief.

As you know, the main indication for pain relief is pain or discomfort during medical procedures. However, it is better not to undergo local anesthesia for pregnant women unless unnecessary.

In addition, the stage of pregnancy must be taken into account. It is believed that drugs cause the least harm to the body of the expectant mother and child in the second trimester (4-6 months). In the first trimester, the laying of organs and systems occurs, in the second – their planned development, in the third – formation.

Therefore, the administration of local anesthetics in the first and third trimester is not recommended (with the exception of emergency conditions, such as inflammatory diseases requiring surgical intervention). In addition to toxic effects, anesthetics with large amounts of adrenaline used in the last months of pregnancy can cause premature birth.

When sanitation of the oral cavity in the first months of pregnancy and the need to remove individual teeth as planned, the intervention is postponed for several months until the second trimester.

Anesthesia in pregnant women: features, safety for women and children

2% of pregnant women experience situations where they require surgery under anesthesia. There may be plenty of reasons for this: appendicitis, cholecystitis, ovarian cysts, bone fractures, dental diseases.

Some operations can be performed under local anesthesia, while for others only general anesthesia is suitable. Does anesthesia have a negative effect on the fetus, and what negative consequences can there be for the embryo?

Surgeons performing an operation on a pregnant woman

Indications for general anesthesia in pregnant women

Any surgical interventions, as well as pain relief, in pregnant women are carried out only for emergency reasons, when there is a direct threat to the life of the mother. If there is a possibility of undergoing surgery, it is more advisable to wait until childbirth and then have surgery.

For pregnant women, it is preferable to have surgery under local anesthesia, although it also has some side effects.

Safety of anesthesia for a pregnant woman

It has been statistically reliably established that the frequency of complications from anesthesia in pregnant women, including the most dangerous (anaphylactic shock and death), does not differ from the frequency of such complications in non-pregnant women.

In many ways, the safety of a pregnant woman during surgery depends on the qualifications of the anesthesiologist and on the provision of the operating room with the necessary equipment. The equipment standard includes:

  • anesthesia machine with artificial lung ventilation function;
  • a monitor that allows you to continuously monitor the most important vital parameters during surgery (blood pressure, pulse and respiration rates, degree of blood oxygen saturation);
  • infusion pumps, which are used to continuously administer drugs into a vein;
  • defibrillator

Operating room equipment

In the absence of this equipment, the life of a pregnant woman and her unborn child is exposed to unjustified risk.

Safety of anesthesia for the fetus

The risk of anesthesia for the fetus in the early stages is undeniable and is due to the influence of several factors. The effect of anesthesia used during surgery.

Although doctors are now trying to use low-toxic drugs, it is impossible to completely protect the fetus from their influence. The effects of anesthesia are especially noticeable during the first trimester.

The miscarriage rate in women undergoing general anesthesia is 3% higher than in the general population (11% versus 8%).

This phenomenon is due to the fact that in the first trimester the formation of the main organs and systems of the fetus occurs, and medications can inhibit this process.

! Anesthesia does not increase the likelihood of congenital deformities in a child!

The mother’s hemodynamic state, that is, her pulse and blood pressure, has a huge impact on the fetus.

Most anesthesia drugs lower blood pressure, which can have negative consequences for the fetus - blood flow in the utero-placental complex decreases. After anesthesia, pregnant women in the later stages (third trimester) increase the risk of premature birth.

This is largely due not to the effects of drugs during anesthesia, but to the stress that the operation itself and the postoperative period pose for a pregnant woman.

During a caesarean section under general anesthesia, the newborn baby may experience respiratory depression due to the effects of narcotic anesthetics.

Long-term effects of anesthesia

General anesthesia received during pregnancy does not affect the psychomotor development of the child.

It is safe to say that in women who have undergone general anesthesia during pregnancy, the child will not lag behind its peers in development. Claims that such a child has developmental or mental problems are idle fictions, refuted by numerous scientific studies.

There are also no consequences for the mother, but the benefits of anesthesia during pregnancy are undeniable - with the help of anesthesia, you can completely eliminate the impact of stress and pain on the mother and unborn child.

How can you reduce the risks of anesthesia?

For pregnant women, some emergency operations can be performed under regional, spinal or epidural anesthesia. However, the question of choosing a method of pain relief should be decided together with a doctor, since only he can take into account all the indications and contraindications.

One way to minimize the effect of anesthetics on the unborn child is to use multicomponent anesthesia, in which drugs from different groups are used. This allows the concentration of each of these drugs to be reduced, which reduces their toxic effect.

Caesarean section, which is the most common operation in pregnant women, is currently 80% preferred by doctors to be performed under spinal anesthesia, which completely prevents the entry of anesthesia drugs into the child’s body.

To reduce all negative effects, doctors try to use drugs that do not pass through the uteroplacental barrier. It becomes easier to do this every year, as new, modern anesthetics, including inhalational ones, appear.

Source: https://NarkoZzz.ru/ginekologiya/obshhij-narkoz-pri-beremennosti.html

conclusions

  • Dental anesthesia can be administered to pregnant women; the best time for this is the second trimester. However, in conditions requiring urgent surgical interventions (opening of ulcers, removal of aggravated teeth), anesthesia is performed in any month of pregnancy.
  • The drugs of choice are Scandonest, Ultracain D-S and Ubistezin D-S.
  • Preference is given to infiltration anesthesia.

About 5% of women during pregnancy require emergency dental treatment under anesthesia. The safest period for such manipulations is 14-28 weeks, when all the child’s organs are already formed. When performing anesthesia, it is important not only to choose a safe drug, but also to the method of its administration.

Is it possible to have anesthesia during pregnancy?

You can't stand the pain. This is stressful for both the expectant mother and the child. You simply cannot do without anesthesia when performing the following procedures:

  • dental treatment, including endodontic treatment - the dental nerve reacts to the slightest mechanical impact, causing acute pain;
  • tooth extraction - when a tooth is removed from the alveoli, the nerve endings are damaged, and, of course, unbearable pain occurs. And if you do not use an anesthetic, painful shock may occur;
  • prosthetics - installation of a prosthesis requires preparation (grinding) of the enamel; this is a rather unpleasant and painful procedure.

However, any type of anesthesia is potentially dangerous during pregnancy. The use of various medications, including anesthetics, can negatively affect the development of the fetus.

Therefore, at the dentist’s appointment, the patient is obliged to warn the doctor about her pregnancy, and also indicate the exact date. Then the doctor will be able to select special anesthetics, the active substances of which do not cross the placental barrier and do not harm the baby.

When is anesthesia used during pregnancy?

If a woman needs anesthesia during pregnancy, then she needs surgery.
No doctor will simply put the life of an unborn child in danger, because the consequences of using anesthesia can be negative. Therefore, if surgical intervention cannot be avoided, the doctor will try to choose a gentle scheme. When talking about the effect of anesthesia on a pregnant woman’s condition, we mean combinatorial negative consequences - both the operation and the anesthetic substances. Women who may experience unexpected complications during pregnancy are in the minority, but no one is immune from surgical risks. In most cases, a pregnant woman may need a dental operation, sometimes a traumatological or specialized operation, for example, a cholecystectomy or appendectomy procedure is needed.

During pregnancy, anesthesia can be given only in case of emergency, when the woman’s life is in direct danger. If surgery can be postponed until later, then it is performed as planned, which allows you to avoid anesthesia and give birth to a child without fear for his health. Immediately after giving birth, such a woman is hospitalized, and then all the necessary manipulations are carried out, including anesthesia.

Safe drugs for local anesthesia

Local (local) anesthesia is the safest type of pain relief. It is used for women during pregnancy. As a rule, a lidocaine solution is used for injection. This drug in small doses can penetrate the placenta in early pregnancy, but it is quickly eliminated from the child’s body and does not cause harm.

Novocaine can also be used during pregnancy, but the dosage is usually reduced.

The anesthetics Ultracaine and Primacaine, containing adrenaline, are very popular in dentistry. However, they cannot be used during pregnancy. Accidental entry of adrenaline into the bloodstream can cause a sharp narrowing of blood vessels and disrupt blood flow to the placenta.

The dosage of the drug depends on the patient’s weight, her pain threshold and the complexity of the planned procedure. As a rule, women are administered 1 ampoule or half, and for excess weight - 2 ampoules. The duration of action of the anesthetic is from 40 minutes to 2 hours.

Main contraindications to local anesthesia:

The third trimester is also a dangerous period for dental procedures. It is especially not recommended to carry out any operations in the 9th month, since there is a high risk of increased uterine tone and premature birth.

Is anesthesia harmful during pregnancy? Doctors say yes. This type of anesthesia can lead to a sharp decrease in blood pressure in a pregnant woman, while oxygen saturation in the blood deteriorates.

Dangerous consequences of general anesthesia:

Operations under anesthesia are carried out in extreme cases when there is a threat to the life of the mother. Superficial sedation (inhalation of nitrous oxide) is also contraindicated. Therefore, only local anesthesia is used for dental treatment.

If a woman is afraid of injections, then you can first numb the mucous membrane with an anesthetic gel, and only then inject into the gums.

Private dental clinics have a large selection of anesthetic drugs indicated during pregnancy. If you are looking for reliable dentistry, we suggest using the convenient search engine on our website.

How dangerous is anesthesia during pregnancy? Someone was horrified now, because some pregnant women are afraid to take even some medications for headaches, but here is a whole cocktail of various drugs, plus blackout. But, unfortunately, pregnant women require surgery under general anesthesia in 3-4% of cases, so this issue is very relevant.

Indications

Of course, we are not talking about planned surgical interventions that can wait (for example, plastic surgery for the purpose of aesthetic correction of the body). But pregnant women may experience emergencies that cannot be resolved conservatively.

  • Complex fractures with displacement.
  • Attacks of appendicitis, cholecystitis, pancreatitis.
  • Progressive suspicious neoplasms.
  • Gynecological problems that interfere with the normal development of the fetus.

For pregnant women, some risks are automatically reduced because they begin to take care of themselves when they learn about their new status as expectant mothers. A woman in an interesting position will switch from heels to comfortable shoes, temporarily put off extreme sports, and begin to be more attentive to food and drinks. But not everything depends on it, and you can get into an accident, become a victim of an attack, or even break something just by turning awkwardly.

By the way! Fractures in pregnant women are not uncommon because most of the calcium is given to the fetus to form its skeletal system.

The following situation cannot be ruled out: a woman first planned an operation, and then found out that she was pregnant. What to do in this case? You need to contact the doctor who will be operating to assess the risks and determine whether the intervention can be postponed. If it concerns, for example, the removal of a dangerous tumor, then it is advisable to carry it out rather than worry about it throughout the entire pregnancy.

Harm

Anesthesia is harmful to any person because it is the effect of a mixture of chemicals on the body. But if a healthy, strong man endures general anesthesia relatively calmly and without consequences, then this can cause serious harm to a pregnant woman.

Anesthesia is especially dangerous in the early stages of pregnancy, when all organs and systems begin to form in the fetus. And these processes can be negatively affected by drugs used to put a pregnant woman into medicated sleep. The main risks consist of three factors.

  1. Increased uterine tone due to increased pressure. Sometimes this happens even at the preparation stage, because... Some women get too nervous.
  2. Fetal asphyxia due to decreased blood pressure and insufficient oxygen entering the blood.
  3. Child developmental disorders due to too much exposure to medications. And this is not necessarily an overdose: sometimes the fetus is initially very weak to resist anything.

It is unknown how the body of a pregnant woman will react to the administration of certain drugs. So surgery under anesthesia is always a risk. Therefore, doctors recommend planning a pregnancy and first undergoing a medical examination for all kinds of diseases that require surgical treatment.

How to reduce risks

When a pregnant woman has a serious problem that requires only surgical intervention under anesthesia, she is immediately admitted to the hospital for a full examination and consultation with all doctors, including an obstetrician-gynecologist and anesthesiologist. At the consultation, a decision is made on the feasibility and necessity of the operation. We also consider all possible options to reduce risks.

Local anesthesia

If it is possible to use spinal anesthesia, the pregnant woman is given this. This type of local anesthesia allows for complex and lengthy operations on the lower extremities and organs of the genitourinary system. At the same time, the patient remains conscious, which means that a harmful “soporific” mixture of gases does not enter her body.

Multicomponent anesthesia

The use of several drugs from different groups can reduce the overall toxic effect. For example, first a pregnant woman will be sedated with sedative intravenous anesthesia, then a mixture of gases will be given, and then medicated sleep will again be maintained with solutions.

Choosing the optimal period

If the problem can wait until the 2nd trimester, the operation is postponed. Because in 4-6 months the fetus is the least vulnerable.

Modern technologies

The development of medicine does not stand still, and new and improved devices and devices for anesthesia and surgical intervention are constantly appearing. And if this clinic does not have such capabilities, the pregnant patient is transferred, for example, to the region or to the capital.

Drugs

For anesthesia during pregnancy, a mixture of drugs is especially carefully selected, which should put the woman into a medicated sleep. Over many years of studying the effects of various solutions, it was found out how certain medications affect pregnant women during anesthesia:

  • propofol, glycopyrrolate and morphine are safe in small doses;
  • Atropine and metoclopramide are suitable for premedication;
  • Thiopental can be used for induction of anesthesia;
  • muscle relaxation is achieved by using esmeron;
  • maintaining narcotic sleep is carried out using a mixture of sevoflurane plus fentanyl;
  • drugs with adrenaline are contraindicated.

The anesthesiologist has an important task: to provide a pregnant woman with a smooth, medicated sleep, during which she will not feel anything physically and be psychologically aware. But at the same time, the anesthesia should not be allowed to be too deep, so as not to increase the concentration of chemicals entering the body.

By the way! The state of anesthesia is maintained by a constant supply of drugs into the body. Therefore, it is important to reduce the duration of the operation as much as possible in order to reduce the impact of chemicals on the woman and the fetus. For this purpose, pregnant women are sometimes operated on by several doctors at once.

Possible consequences

Early anesthesia can lead to fetal death in 11% of cases. But for most women this is not too difficult psychologically, because they have not yet had time to get used to their new status. And physically, the loss of pregnancy also has a slight impact on the patient. She must understand that thanks to the operation, her life is now out of danger, and after some time she will be able to become pregnant again and give birth to a child.

If the operation was performed under anesthesia in the 3rd trimester, the risk of losing the baby is 6%. It's not as much as it seems. In addition, this figure also includes the risks associated with the surgical intervention itself. General anesthesia during the 2nd trimester threatens the death of the child only in 2-3% of cases.

Curious! The percentage of deaths from anesthesia in pregnant women themselves is approximately equal to that of non-pregnant women.

When operating on pregnant women in later stages, there is also a risk of premature birth due to pressure surges and increased uterine tone. Therefore, an obstetrician is often invited to the operation so that he can deliver the child, and a neonatologist who will care for the premature baby.

Thanks to modern technologies and the professionalism of doctors, operations under anesthesia in pregnant women in the vast majority of cases are successful and without consequences for the fetus. The main thing is to contact a specialist immediately after discovering suspicious health problems.

General anesthesia during pregnancy: indications, risks, consequences

How dangerous is anesthesia during pregnancy? Someone was horrified now, because some pregnant women are afraid to take even some medications for headaches, but here is a whole cocktail of various drugs, plus blackout. But, unfortunately, pregnant women require surgery under general anesthesia in 3-4% of cases, so this issue is very relevant.

Indications

Of course, we are not talking about planned surgical interventions that can wait (for example, plastic surgery for the purpose of aesthetic correction of the body). But pregnant women may experience emergencies that cannot be resolved conservatively.

  • Complex fractures with displacement.
  • Attacks of appendicitis, cholecystitis, pancreatitis.
  • Progressive suspicious neoplasms.
  • Gynecological problems that interfere with the normal development of the fetus.

For pregnant women, some risks are automatically reduced because they begin to take care of themselves when they learn about their new status as expectant mothers.

A woman in an interesting position will switch from heels to comfortable shoes, temporarily put off extreme sports, and begin to be more attentive to food and drinks.

But not everything depends on it, and you can get into an accident, become a victim of an attack, or even break something just by turning awkwardly.

By the way! Fractures in pregnant women are not uncommon because most of the calcium is given to the fetus to form its skeletal system.

The following situation cannot be ruled out: a woman first planned an operation, and then found out that she was pregnant. What to do in this case? You need to contact the doctor who will be operating to assess the risks and determine whether the intervention can be postponed. If it concerns, for example, the removal of a dangerous tumor, then it is advisable to carry it out rather than worry about it throughout the entire pregnancy.

Harm

Anesthesia is harmful to any person because it is the effect of a mixture of chemicals on the body. But if a healthy, strong man endures general anesthesia relatively calmly and without consequences, then this can cause serious harm to a pregnant woman.

Anesthesia is especially dangerous in the early stages of pregnancy, when all organs and systems begin to form in the fetus. And these processes can be negatively affected by drugs used to put a pregnant woman into medicated sleep. The main risks consist of three factors.

  1. Increased uterine tone due to increased pressure. Sometimes this happens even at the preparation stage, because... Some women get too nervous.
  2. Fetal asphyxia due to decreased blood pressure and insufficient oxygen entering the blood.
  3. Child developmental disorders due to too much exposure to medications. And this is not necessarily an overdose: sometimes the fetus is initially very weak to resist anything.

It is unknown how the body of a pregnant woman will react to the administration of certain drugs. So surgery under anesthesia is always a risk. Therefore, doctors recommend planning a pregnancy and first undergoing a medical examination for all kinds of diseases that require surgical treatment.

How to reduce risks

When a pregnant woman has a serious problem that requires only surgical intervention under anesthesia, she is immediately admitted to the hospital for a full examination and consultation with all doctors, including an obstetrician-gynecologist and anesthesiologist. At the consultation, a decision is made on the feasibility and necessity of the operation. We also consider all possible options to reduce risks.

Local anesthesia

If it is possible to use spinal anesthesia, the pregnant woman is given this. This type of local anesthesia allows for complex and lengthy operations on the lower extremities and organs of the genitourinary system. At the same time, the patient remains conscious, which means that a harmful “soporific” mixture of gases does not enter her body.

Multicomponent anesthesia

The use of several drugs from different groups can reduce the overall toxic effect. For example, first a pregnant woman will be sedated with sedative intravenous anesthesia, then a mixture of gases will be given, and then medicated sleep will again be maintained with solutions.

Choosing the optimal period

If the problem can wait until the 2nd trimester, the operation is postponed. Because in 4-6 months the fetus is the least vulnerable.

Modern technologies

The development of medicine does not stand still, and new and improved devices and devices for anesthesia and surgical intervention are constantly appearing. And if this clinic does not have such capabilities, the pregnant patient is transferred, for example, to the region or to the capital.

Drugs

For anesthesia during pregnancy, a mixture of drugs is especially carefully selected, which should put the woman into a medicated sleep. Over many years of studying the effects of various solutions, it was found out how certain medications affect pregnant women during anesthesia:

  • propofol, glycopyrrolate and morphine are safe in small doses;
  • Atropine and metoclopramide are suitable for premedication;
  • Thiopental can be used for induction of anesthesia;
  • muscle relaxation is achieved by using esmeron;
  • maintaining narcotic sleep is carried out using a mixture of sevoflurane plus fentanyl;
  • drugs with adrenaline are contraindicated.

The anesthesiologist has an important task: to provide a pregnant woman with a smooth, medicated sleep, during which she will not feel anything physically and be psychologically aware. But at the same time, the anesthesia should not be allowed to be too deep, so as not to increase the concentration of chemicals entering the body.

By the way! The state of anesthesia is maintained by a constant supply of drugs into the body. Therefore, it is important to reduce the duration of the operation as much as possible in order to reduce the impact of chemicals on the woman and the fetus. For this purpose, pregnant women are sometimes operated on by several doctors at once.

Possible consequences

Early anesthesia can lead to fetal death in 11% of cases. But for most women this is not too difficult psychologically, because they have not yet had time to get used to their new status.

And physically, the loss of pregnancy also has a slight impact on the patient.

She must understand that thanks to the operation, her life is now out of danger, and after some time she will be able to become pregnant again and give birth to a child.

If the operation was performed under anesthesia in the 3rd trimester, the risk of losing the baby is 6%. It's not as much as it seems. In addition, this figure also includes the risks associated with the surgical intervention itself. General anesthesia during the 2nd trimester threatens the death of the child only in 2-3% of cases.

Curious! The percentage of deaths from anesthesia in pregnant women themselves is approximately equal to that of non-pregnant women.

When operating on pregnant women in later stages, there is also a risk of premature birth due to pressure surges and increased uterine tone. Therefore, an obstetrician is often invited to the operation so that he can deliver the child, and a neonatologist who will care for the premature baby.

Thanks to modern technologies and the professionalism of doctors, operations under anesthesia in pregnant women in the vast majority of cases are successful and without consequences for the fetus. The main thing is to contact a specialist immediately after discovering suspicious health problems. 

Source: https://snarkozom.ru/narkoz/obshhij-narkoz-vo-vremya-beremennosti/.html

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