Developing guidance for checking pregnancy status in adolescent girls before surgical, radiological or other procedures

摘要

Guidance on the conduct of pre-procedural checks of pregnancy status in UK women of child-bearing age has been developed to avert the risks of surgery and anaesthesia in a previously unidentified pregnancy. It was initially recommended that formal pregnancy testing should be selective in its application, depending on the risks posed by procedures. In response to 42 incidents, when pregnancy status was not established, the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) recommended: (a) tightening procedures to ensure that audited checking and recording of pregnancy status occurred; (b) consensual blanket testing of all menstruating women for pregnancy prior to surgical procedures.