title: Physiologic changes in pregnancy and their impact on critical care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the major pregnancy-induced physiologic changes that affect the care of patients who are critically ill.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed relevant textbooks and articles pertaining to physiologic alterations produced by pregnancy. Those changes that have a bearing on patients admitted to an intensive care unit were abstracted, summarized, and organized by organ system.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Several organ systems manifest significant change in function during pregnancy. The cardiovascular and pulmonary systems are the two most important with regard to critical care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Edward R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Yeomans
authors.forename: Larry C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Gilstrap
mesh_terms: D003422:Critical Care; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000503:physiopathology*