Review
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World J Gastrointest Endosc. May 16, 2014; 6(5): 156-167
Published online May 16, 2014. doi: 10.4253/wjge.v6.i5.156
Gastrointestinal endoscopy in the pregnant woman
David Friedel, Stavros Stavropoulos, Shahzad Iqbal, Mitchell S Cappell
David Friedel, Stavros Stavropoulos, Shahzad Iqbal, Division of Gastroenterology, Winthrop Medical Center, Mineola, NY 11501, United States
Mitchell S Cappell, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI 48073, United States
Mitchell S Cappell, Oakland University Wiliiam Beaumont School of Medicine, Royal Oak, MI 48073, United States
Author contributions: Friedel D and Cappell MS contributed equally to this manuscript; all the authors contributed to the writing and approved the final version.
Correspondence to: Mitchell S Cappell, MD, PhD, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, William Beaumont Hospital, 3535 West Thirteen Mile Road, Royal Oak, MI 48073, United States. mscappell@yahoo.com
Telephone: +1-248-5511227 Fax: +1-248-5517581
Received: November 15, 2013
Revised: February 18, 2014
Accepted: April 16, 2014
Published online: May 16, 2014
Processing time: 186 Days and 4.6 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: This article critically analysis the literature on the safety of gastrointestinal endoscopy during pregnancy. Endoscopy is frequently indicated during pregnancy with about 20000 endoscopies performed during pregnancy per annum in America. Although gastrointestinal endoscopy is generally safe in the non-pregnant population the safety of the fetus as well as the patient must be analyzed for endoscopy during pregnancy. This study reviews the literature on the safety of esophagogastroduodenoscopy, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, flexible sigmoidoscopy, and colonoscopy during pregnancy and provides guidelines about the indications, safety precautions, and efficacy of endoscopy during pregnancy.