title: High-Frequency Spinal Cord Stimulation and Pregnancy: A Case Report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  High-frequency spinal cord stimulation (HF SCS) is a relatively new modality of SCS. The present general advice concerning pregnancy and SCS, in general, is to turn the device off because of insufficient knowledge concerning the impact on the developing fetus. As HF stimulation generates higher energies, potential adverse fetal effects could be theoretically stronger.
  
  
  METHODS
  This case report describes a 36-year-old woman who had two pregnancies with an active HF SCS system. Her first pregnancy ended in a miscarriage. During her second pregnancy, she continued stimulation treatment during the whole pregnancy. She gave birth to a healthy baby.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This case describes both a miscarriage and the birth of a healthy baby in a patient treated with HF SCS. It is not possible to rule out that the HF SCS could have caused the miscarriage. Also, the birth of the healthy baby after the second pregnancy in which HF SCS was used the whole period, is not a valid reason to declare HF SCS and SCS, in general, safe during pregnancy. As no sufficient data are available, we must remain cautious about any unknown possible adverse effects or delayed adverse events because of SCS and maybe especially HF stimulation. All outcome data on pregnancies during all types of SCS ideally should be collected and analyzed.
authors.affiliation: Pain Clinic Velp, Rijnstate Hospital, Velp, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Caro
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Edelbroek
authors.affiliation: Pain Clinic Velp, Rijnstate Hospital, Velp, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Terheggen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D062187:Spinal Cord Stimulation / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Chronic pain; failed back surgery syndrome; high-frequency; pregnancy; spinal cord stimulation