Though anaesthesia can be safely administered to pregnant women for various surgeries, the risks associated with it are significant. Adequate knowledge of the physiology is required for a safe surgery. A pregnant woman may require anaesthesia for obstetric or non-obstetric reasons. Numerous conditions other than the pregnancy per se may warrant surgery. Safe delivery of anesthesia involves safety of both the mother and the fetus.
Non obstetric causes for surgery include acute appendicitis, acute cholecystitis, trauma, tumors, torsion of ovarian cysts, strangulated hernias etc. These surgeries may adversely affect the pregnancy by fetal injury, fetal loss, preterm labor and maternal injury. The physiological changes that occur during pregnancy make delivering safe anaesthesia a challenge. Physiological changes affecting the major systems and the anaesthetic implications The physiological…
