Obstetric analgesia and anesthesia

M. James Lozada, Rovnat Babazade, Rakesh B. Vadhera

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of obstetric analgesia and anesthesia clinical techniques that offer significant benefit to laboring patients and are essential for operative delivery. Effective management of labor pain requires an understanding of the dynamic labor process. Labor pain may cause significant physiological effects on the mother, fetus, and labor course. Labor analgesia must ensure maternal and fetal safety, be adjusted to individual pain tolerances, and accommodate the evolving nature of labor pain and delivery. Nonpharmacological approaches to labor pain management help women better cope with labor pain and maintain a sense of personal control over the labor process. Opioids are the most widely used systemic medications for labor anesthesia due to their low cost, ease of use, and lack of need for specialized equipment or personnel. General anesthesia is used in obstetric practice when regional anesthesia is contraindicated or when a maternal or fetal emergency requires a rapid, reliable anesthetic.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationCritical Care Obstetrics
Publisherwiley
Pages315-330
Number of pages16
ISBN (Electronic)9781119129400
ISBN (Print)9781119129370
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2018

Keywords

  • General anesthesia
  • Labor analgesia
  • Labor pain
  • Obstetric analgesia
  • Opiods
  • Regional anesthesia

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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