|
 Obstetrical anesthesia is
considered to be a highrisk
practice that exposes the
anesthesiologist to
increased medicolegal
liability.
Failure to appropriately
manage
a difficult or failed
intubation increases the
risk of hypoxemic
cardiopulmonary arrest and/or
pulmonary aspiration,
resulting in a high
probability of maternal
morbidity and mortality.
|
Anesthesia is the seventh
leading cause of maternal
mortality in the United
States.
Anatomic and physiologic
changes during pregnancy
place the parturient at
increased risk for airway
management problems.
It is essential to perform a
thorough preanesthetic
evaluation and identify the
factors predictive of
difficult intubation.
|
Anatomic and physiological
factors
affecting the
obstetric airway:
upper
airway edema
decreased
functional residual capacity
breast
enlargement
increased
oxygen consumption
excessive
weight gain
increased
risk of aspiration
cephalad
displacement of diaphragm
preeclampsia
|
