A study published in JAMA Surgery outlined a scoring system physicians can use to determine risk of adverse events for pregnant women after undergoing an appendectomy or cholecystectomy, MedPage Today reports.
Adam Sachs, MD, of Hartford (Conn.) Hospital, led researchers who examined prior procedures performed on 19,926 women to determine the scoring table associated with possible adverse events.
Researchers presented the results in an adjusted odds ratio for each risk factor:
- Cervical incompetence (adjusted OR 24.29, 95% CI 7.48-78.81)
- Preterm labor during current pregnancy (adjusted OR 18.34, 95% CI 4.95-67.97)
- Vaginitis or vulvovaginitis (adjusted OR 5.17, 95% CI 2.19-12.23, P<0.001 for all)
The researchers believe this is the first study that found that "these obstetric variables to have the strongest link with adverse obstetric outcomes following these surgeries, instead of "maternal-, surgery- or disease-related variables."
The scoring table is as follows:
- Cervical incompetence — 16 points
- Preterm labor — 15 points
- Vaginitis or vulvovaginitis —8 points
- Multiple gestation or sepsis — 6 points
- Open surgery or peritonitis — 5 points
Anything over nine points had a 21.8 percent probability, while between five points to eight points had an 8.2 probability and under five points was a 2.5 probability.