Pre-eclampsia: fluids, drugs, and anesthetic management.
Severe pre-eclampsia is a complex disease, which taxes the expertise of even the most experienced obstetric anesthesiologist. The treatment should focus on stabilization of blood pressure, optimization of fluid status, and prevention of convulsions. Neuraxial blocks for labor and delivery offer many benefits to the mother and her infant. For cesarean section, there is unequivocal evidence of superiority of neuraxial anesthesia over general anesthesia. If general anesthesia is needed, careful preanesthetic preparation and meticulous airway management is essential. The successful and safe peripartum management of the pre-eclamptic patient and her infant is a team effort among the anesthesiologist, obstetrician, and neonatologist.
Ramanathan
Jaya
J
Department of Anesthesiology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, TN 38103, USA. jramanathan@utmem.edu
Bennett
Kelly
K
D016362:Analgesia, Obstetrical; D000773:Anesthesia, Obstetrical; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D005440:Fluid Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D011247:Pregnancy