LAPAROSCOPIC REMOVAL OF A DERMOID CYST IN PREGNANCY - A CASE-REPORT

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopy in pregnancy can endanger the fetus. It is now being reexamined because of our experience with complex operative pro cedures and new laparoscopic equipment. CASE: A decision was made to p erform laparoscopy instead of laparotomy for a pelvic mass in a pregna nt woman. The patient was admitted to the emergency room with a temper ature of 38.9 degrees C and was 15(4/7) weeks pregnant. Over several h ours she developed septic shock, with the blood pressure and white blo od cell count dropping. Bedside ultrasound revealed a complex mass sus picious for an abscess. A dermoid cyst was found and removed by pelvis copic techniques. Blood cultures revealed typhoid fever, and the patie nt responded to antibiotics. She runs discharged on the 10th postopera tive day. CONCLUSlON: This case demonstrates the value of laparoscopy in pregnancy not only for diagnosis but also for treatment. Laparoscop y in pregnancy should be added to the armamentarium of the gynecologis t.