General anaesthesia during early pregnancy.

General anaesthesia in the early stages of pregnancy may carry an increased risk of embryotoxicity. One hundred and six women scheduled for non-emerency surgery were interviewed preoperatively and their menstrual history taken. Forty-three (41 per cent) were considered to be using adequate contraceptive therapy. Thirty-one (29 per cent) of the patients could have been in the early stages of pregnancy, and of these women, 19 (61 per cent) were undergoing surgery of a minor nature. Simple history taking identified the women 'at risk' and it is suggested that surgery could have been delayed without detriment in many cases.