Is Endoscopy Safe for Pregnant Women with Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding?

Pregnant women were less likely than nonpregnant women to undergo endoscopy for nonvariceal UGIB; however, endoscopy was not associated with adverse maternal or fetal outcomes.

Endoscopy is indicated for the diagnosis and treatment of nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB). However, for pregnant women, the procedure is restricted to those with persistent or severe UGIB because of possible adverse effects on the mother and fetus.

To estimate the rates of endoscopy and related adverse outcomes in pregnant women hospitalized with UGIB, investigators conducted a population-based, retrospective, cohort study involving 1210 pregnant patients identified from the U.S. Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) from 1998 to 2007. Each patient was age-matched with five nonpregnant women controls admitted with UGIB.

Pregnant patients were less likely to undergo endoscopy than nonpregnant controls (26% vs. 69%; P<0.0001; adj…

Reviewing Author

David J. Bjorkman, MD, MSPH (HSA), SM (Epid.)

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

David J. Bjorkman, MD, MSPH (HSA), SM (Epid.)

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Is Endoscopy Safe for Pregnant Women with Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding?

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Reviewing Author