Advice after your nerve block for surgery
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Introduction
- It is normal practice in our trust to carry out pregnancy testing on all female patients between 12 and 55 years of age, prior to general anaesthesia or a surgical procedure.
- National guidance on this has been produced from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, on behalf of five professional bodies by a multi-disciplinary working group.
- The likelihood of a patient between 12 and 15 being pregnant is very low. The conception rate for under 16s is 2.1 per 1000 in England, Wales and Scotland4. This rate has continued to decrease over recent years.
- The reported incidence of pregnancy in adolescent girls, revealed by preoperative testing, varies from 0.49% to 1.2% in the US. No similar major studies have been carried out in the UK1.
- We understand that asking you / your child to consent for a pregnancy test may be distressing, embarrassing or seem unnecessary. We acknowledge that most girls under 16 years are NOT sexually active.
So why do we do this?
- We do not know who is or is not, sexually active, and so to avoid any undue harm, we will ask ALL girls aged 12 years and over to consent to a pregnancy test prior to surgery.
- Fertility in young women has an uncertain starting point and the onset of menstruation is not an accurate indicator of fertility.
- There is evidence that those under 16 years may feel unable to respond accurately to questioning about sexual activity and risk of pregnancy.
- It is generally accepted that elective surgery should be avoided during pregnancy.
- The implication of sexual activity in those under 16 MAY carry safeguarding implications.
How does this happen?
- Our staff are used to carrying out this test as discreetly as possible.
- The test will be performed on the ward on the day of surgery using a urine sample.
- Verbal consent only is required for this test.
- In the event that consent to a pregnancy test is denied, the clinical team must determine whether the procedure should go ahead with an unconfirmed pregnancy status. The risks of proceeding should be fully discussed and explained.
- If surgery is urgent or an emergency, the safest approach will be carefully considered by the clinical team.
- Please feel free to ask any further questions prior to or on the day or surgery to the nursing staff, surgeons or anaesthetists.
Contact us
If you have any queries relating to this information, please contact the Paediatrics service.
About this information
Service:
Paediatrics
Reference:
B/077
Approval date:
1 February 2024
Review date:
1 January 2026
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Important note
This page provides general information only. It is developed by clinical staff and is reviewed regularly every 3 years for accuracy. For personal advice about your health, or if you have any concerns, please speak to your doctor.