SEVERE MATERNAL AND FETAL ELECTROLYTE IMBALANCE IN PREGNANCY AFTER GASTRIC-SURGERY FOR MORBID-OBESITY - A CASE-REPORT

BACKGROUND: Gastric surgery for morbid obesity is considered a safe pr ocedure with favorable effects on reproductive performance. Pregnancie s after gastric restrictive operations are usually well tolerated by b oth mother and fetus. Some postoperative complications, however, do oc cur,although an association between such complications and adverse pre gnancy outcomes has not been reported. CASE: A 40-year-old woman had a successful gastric operation for weight reduction but developed chron ic, low grade gastrointestinal obstruction as a late complication of s urgery. Subsequent pregnancies ended in late abortion or premature del ivery. During her last pregnancy, reported here in detail, severe and life-threatening fetomaternal electrolyte imbalances developed. CONCLU SION: Pregnancy following a gastric operation for morbid obesity may b e complicated by severe metabolic disturbances that can jeopardize bot h the pregnant woman and her fetus. These pregnancy complications, whi ch are related to the primary gastric surgery, are reported here for t he first time.