Special populations critical care considerations of the morbidly obese pregnant patient.
The critically ill pregnant patient poses a unique challenge to the clinician, requiring a thorough understanding of normal and abnormal maternal and fetal physiology associated with pregnancy. The morbidly obese patient presents even greater challenges to the clinician, and morbidity and mortality are proportionately increased. Because increased numbers of obese pregnant women are now admitted to intensive care units, practitioners must be aware of the physiology associated with both pregnancy and obesity. A multidisciplinary approach is imperative to prevent both maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality for these very complex patients, especially when they are admitted to the ICU with critical illness.
Baldisseri
Marie R
MR
Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 613 Scaife Hall, 3550 Terrace Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15238, USA. baldisserimr@ccm.upmc.edu
Larkins-Pettigrew
Margaret D
MD
D018806:APACHE; D000758:Anesthesia; D003422:Critical Care; D016638:Critical Illness; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007751:Labor, Induced; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000502:physiology*; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives