title: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass-associated bowel obstruction complicating pregnancy-an obstetrician's map to the clinical minefield.
abstract: Over 80% of patients undergoing bariatric surgery are women, approximately half of whom are of reproductive age. The most common procedure in the United States is the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Small bowel obstruction is one of many recognized postoperative complications. For such a serious condition, this entity presents with remarkable subtlety and is easily misdiagnosed, particularly in pregnant women. The consequences of late recognition can be life-threatening to both mother and fetus. We aim to decrease preventable maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality by revealing diagnostic and therapeutic missteps related to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass-associated small bowel obstruction.
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maine Medical Center, Portland, ME, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Wax
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Pinette
authors.forename: Angelina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cartin
mesh_terms: D003951:Diagnostic Errors / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D015390:Gastric Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery