What department to see for cholestasis during pregnancy

Cholestasis during pregnancy should be seen in the obstetrics department and should be treated aggressively under medical supervision. Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is a complication specific to the middle and late stages of pregnancy, which typically manifests itself as itching of the skin and laboratory tests suggesting elevated serum bile acids, which can increase the risk of fetal distress and intrauterine foetal death, etc. Therefore, once the diagnosis is clearly established, it is necessary to see the obstetrics department, and medications, such as ursodeoxycholic acid, have to be aggressively administered under the supervision of a doctor. Since sudden and unpredictable intrauterine fetal death can occur in ICP pregnancies, it is important to reduce the risk of pregnancy by strengthening the management of pregnancy and choosing the appropriate timing and mode of delivery based on the serum bile acid level. For ICP pregnant women with early onset and prolonged course, timely termination of pregnancy and preparation for neonatal resuscitation are needed to ensure the safety of mother and child.