PREOPERATIVE PREGNANCY TESTING IN ADOLESCENTS

Citation
Fj. Azzam et al., PREOPERATIVE PREGNANCY TESTING IN ADOLESCENTS, Anesthesia and analgesia, 82(1), 1996, pp. 4-7
Citations number
20
Categorie Soggetti
Anesthesiology
Journal title
ISSN journal
00032999
Volume
82
Issue
1
Year of publication
1996
Pages
4 - 7
Database
ISI
SICI code
0003-2999(1996)82:1<4:PPTIA>2.0.ZU;2-H
Abstract
Anesthetics and other drugs used during the perioperative period may h ave teratogenic or abortive effects. The pregnancy status of surgical patients is often unknown. This investigation examined retrospectively the results of 2 yr of mandatory pregnancy testing in 412 adolescent surgical patients. The overall incidence of positive tests was 1.2%. F ive of 207 patients aged 15 yr and older tested positive, for an incid ence of 2.4% in that group. None of the 205 patients under the age of 15 yr had a positive pregnancy test. We conclude that mandatory pregna ncy testing is advisable in adolescent surgical patients aged 15 yr an d older.