Anesthesia Considerations for Pregnant People With COVID-19 Infection

Abstract

The purpose of this review is to describe updates following initial recommendations on best anesthesia practices for obstetric patients with coronavirus disease 2019. The first surge in the United States prompted anesthesiologists to adapt workflows and reconsider obstetric anesthesia care, with emphasis on avoidance of general anesthesia, the benefit of early neuraxial labor analgesia, and prevention of emergent cesarean delivery whenever possible. While workflows have changed to allow sustained safety for obstetric patients and health care workers, it is notable that obstetric anesthesia protocols for labor and delivery have not significantly evolved since the first coronavirus disease 2019 wave.