Fetal anesthesia and pain management for intrauterine therapy

Clin Perinatol. 2013 Sep;40(3):429-42. doi: 10.1016/j.clp.2013.05.006. Epub 2013 Jul 3.

Abstract

Anesthesia provision for fetal intervention differs from most other anesthetic situations insofar as anesthesiologists must care for 2 or more patients-each with potentially conflicting requirements. The first is the mother who can readily indicate discomforts, can be monitored directly, and to whom drugs may be administered directly and easily. For the fetus (or fetuses), nociception must be assumed or inferred indirectly, monitoring is limited at best, and drug administration is complicated and often indirect. Fetal and maternal hemodynamic stability must be assured; and a plan to resuscitate the fetus, should problems occur during the procedure, must be developed.

Keywords: Fetal access; Fetal anesthesia; Fetal drug delivery; Fetal monitoring; Fetal resuscitation.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anesthesia / methods*
  • Anesthesia, Conduction / methods
  • Anesthesia, General / methods
  • Fetal Diseases / therapy*
  • Fetal Monitoring / methods
  • Fetal Therapies / methods*
  • Humans
  • Pain Management*
  • Ultrasonography, Prenatal