Upper gastro intestinal endoscopy in pregnancy: A single centre experience

Abstract

INTRODCTION: Upper gastro intestinal (GI) endoscopy is advisable to perform when strongly indicated during pregnancy. This study was to evaluate the outcomes of upper GI endoscopy during pregnancy. METHODS: A single centre retrospective study was carried out. Randomly selected 500 medical records of the pregnant mothers who were referred as out patients and hospitalized from 2012 to 2022 were retrieved. Inclusion criteria for retrieving data of the patients who underwent upper GI endoscopy were; Major or continued bleeding, severe or refractory nausea and vomiting or abdominal pain, dysphagia or odynophagia. Endoscopic findings were recorded in a computer based database. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethical Review Committee of Nawaloka Hospitals of Sri Lanka. No conflict of interest. RESULTS: A total of 16 records of patients underwent upper GI endoscopy were retrieved during 2012 to 2022. The mean age of the patients was 25.48 ± 6.5 years. Ten patients (62.5%:10/16) were primigravida. During the first, second and third trimester of pregnancy, number of patients who underwent upper GI endoscopy were 8 (50%), 4 (25%), and 4 (25%) respectively. The major indication was persistence epigastric pain (75%: 12/16) followed by dysphagia (18.7%:3/16) and hematemesis in one patient. All patients had undergone conservative treatment without any therapeutic upper GI endoscopy. There were no records that were found to have ERCP, capsular endoscopy or enteroscopy during pregnancy among our patients. No records were found of having endoscopy related adverse effects on mothers or foetuses. CONCLUSION: The upper GI endoscopy especially oesophago-gastro-dudenoscopy (OGD) may be performed without a major risk to the mother and the baby. However, further prospective multicentre research studies are strongly recommended.