title: [Anesthesia for acute fetal distress].
abstract: Anaesthesia for fetal distress is usually indicated for emergency caesarean section. General anaesthesia, which is the classical technique in these cases, remains the leading cause of anaesthesia-related maternal mortality. Difficult intubation and Mendelson's syndrome are mostly responsible for these fatalities. Nevertheless there are several answers to this problem. A better evaluation of the patient's problems based upon a preanaesthetic outpatient visit during the last term of pregnancy allows a more rational approach to meet the patient's requirements should an emergency caesarean section occur. For example, a "prophylactic" epidural instituted soon after the beginning of labor may be lifesaving in a patient with obvious signs of difficult intubation. A clear definition of safe standards of equipment and practices both to prevent Mendelson's syndrome or to cope with a failed intubation through a "failed intubation drill" is of paramount importance. Finally, a comprehensive communication between anesthetic and obstetrical teams is one of the most useful ways to allow a safer approach of the management of obstetric emergencies such as caesarean section for fetal distress.
authors.affiliation: Département d'Anesthésie-Réanimation, Hôpital St-Vincent-de-Paul, Paris.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hamza
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000767:Anesthesia, Epidural; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000379:methods*; D000773:Anesthesia, Obstetrical / Q000379:methods*; D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal; D002585:Cesarean Section; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D005316:Fetal Distress; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors
vernacular_title: Anesthésie pour souffrance foetale aiguë.