Physiologic and Pharmacologic Considerations

Abstract

To provide optimal obstetric anesthetic care, it is essential for the anesthetist¹ to know well the maternal physiologic alterations produced by pregnancy, labor and parturition; physiology and pharmacology of the fetal placental complex, and of the forces of labor and how these are altered by analgesics and anesthetics. Unless this knowledge is properly applied, the anesthetist may make a grevious error which may prove disastrous to the mother or the newborn or both. This chapter includes a summary of current knowledge on: a) maternal, physiologic and psychologic changes produced by pregnancy and parturition; b) physiology and pharmacology of the placenta and fetus; c) the physiology and pharmacology of the forces of labor. A summary of the physiology of the newborn is contained in Chapter 10.