Anesthesia for labor and delivery in high risk cardiovascular disease

Abstract

Anesthetic management of the pregnant woman with high risk cardiovascular disease requires understanding of the individual patient’s cardiac anatomy and pathophysiology; how the physiological changes associated with pregnancy, labor and delivery have affected the patient; and the hemodynamic alterations that may be induced by the choices of analgesic or anesthetic techniques. Ideally, an individualized management plan is developed in the antepartum period by a team of providers (cardiologist, obstetrician and anesthesiologist). Interdisciplinary communication and preparation are critically important, since peripartum obstetric and cardiac complications may require rapid intervention. Key words (Anesthesia , pregnancy , delivery , cardiovascular, general , regional ).