ANESTHESIA FOR LABOR, DELIVERY, AND CESAREAN SECTION IN HIGH-RISK HEART DISEASE

Course overview

OBSTETRIC ANESTHESIA IN HIGH-RISK CARDIAC PATIENTS IS A CHALLENGING AND REWARDING SUBSPECIALTY OF ANESTHESIA. ANESTHESIOLOGISTS MUST BE WELL-VERSED IN THE PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES OF PREGNANCY AND THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF CARDIAC DISEASE TO UNDERSTAND THE BEST WAY TO ADMINISTER AN ANESTHETIC WITHOUT EXACERBATING A CARDIAC CONDITION. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS COMMON CARDIAC CONDITIONS THE ANESTHESIOLOGIST MAY ENCOUNTER AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ANESTHETIC MANAGEMENT OF THIS FASCINATING SUBSET OF PATIENTS, EMPHASIZING THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAMWORK BETWEEN THE ANESTHESIOLOGIST, OBSTETRICIAN, AND CARDIOLOGIST TO DELIVER BOTH THE CHILD AND ANESTHETIC IN A SAFE MANNER.