ABSTRACT
The approach to the pregnant patient undergoing nonobstetric surgery requires thorough knowledge of the normal maternal physiologic and anatomic adaptation to pregnancy, potential fetal effects of diagnostic tests or ancillary pharmaceutical therapies, and the potential for any obstetric complications. If a significant alteration in the management will result from the information gained from abdominal and pelvic Computed tomography examinations performed during pregnancy, then the potential fetal risk is warranted. The preoperative evaluation of the pregnant patient should include all the elements one would perform if the patient were not pregnant plus an antenatal assessment of the fetus and pregnancy to assess for the effect of the condition needing the surgery on the outcome of the pregnancy. Laboratory assessment, imaging studies, and preoperative assessments must take into account the maternal adaptations of pregnancy and gestational age. The management of a breast carcinoma in pregnancy is similar to the nonpregnant state.
