title: Spinal cord stimulation in pregnancy: a literature review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Currently, the use of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) therapy is not recommended in pregnancy because the effects of SCS on the pregnancy and developing fetus are unknown. However, many SCS recipients are women of childbearing age who may later become pregnant. The purpose of the present report is to review and summarize the existing literature on the use of SCS therapy during the prenatal period.
  
  
  METHODS
  We first present the case of a 38-year-old woman from our center who became pregnant after receiving an SCS implantation. We then provide a synopsis of previous reports that were identified in a literature search. We highlight the key findings from these cases as they relate to the course of pregnancy, fetal development, labor and delivery management, fertility, and technical complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In our literature review, we identified 12 cases of pregnancy in 8 women. To these we add the present case.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women of childbearing age who are candidates for SCS implantation should be tested for pregnancy prior to implantation surgery. They also should be informed about the limited state of our scientific knowledge regarding the impact of this technology on reproductive health. For patients already implanted with SCS, decisions about ongoing use in the event of pregnancy should be made on an individual basis after a careful consideration of potential risks and benefits.
authors.affiliation: Chronic Pain Centre, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada .
authors.forename: Ingrid C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Fedoroff
authors.forename: Ekin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Blackwell
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Malysh
authors.forename: William N
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boyd
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development; D006801:Humans; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology*; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000628:therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D062187:Spinal Cord Stimulation / Q000379:methods*