What obstetricians should know about obstetric anesthesia during the COVID-19 pandemic

Semin Perinatol. 2020 Nov;44(7):151277. doi: 10.1016/j.semperi.2020.151277. Epub 2020 Aug 26.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted obstetric anesthesiologists to reconsider the ways in which basic anesthesia care is provided on the Labor and Delivery Unit. Suggested modifications include an added emphasis on avoiding general anesthesia, a strong encouragement to infected individuals to opt for early neuraxial analgesia, and the prevention of emergent cesarean delivery, whenever possible. Through team efforts, adopting these measures can have real effects on reducing the transmission of the viral illness and maintaining patient and caregiver safety in the labor room.

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Inhalation
  • Analgesia, Epidural / methods
  • Analgesia, Obstetrical / methods*
  • Analgesia, Patient-Controlled
  • Analgesics, Opioid
  • Anesthesia, Epidural / methods
  • Anesthesia, Obstetrical / methods*
  • Anesthesia, Spinal / methods
  • Anesthetics, Inhalation
  • Anticoagulants
  • COVID-19 / diagnosis
  • COVID-19 / prevention & control
  • COVID-19 / therapy*
  • COVID-19 Testing
  • Cesarean Section / methods*
  • Emergencies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Masks
  • Nitrous Oxide
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / diagnosis
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / prevention & control
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / therapy*
  • SARS-CoV-2

Substances

  • Analgesics, Opioid
  • Anesthetics, Inhalation
  • Anticoagulants
  • Nitrous Oxide