ICU management of the obstetric patient

Publication date: Available online 15 February 2020Source: Trends in Anaesthesia and Critical CareAuthor(s): Sima Patel, Andrea Estevez, Nicholas Nedeff, Jose Gascon, Ilde LeeAbstractAcross the United States (U.S.), very few centers exist with an intensive care unit (ICU) solely dedicated to obstetrics (OB) and gynecology (GYN) patients. The management of obstetric patients, who are admitted to a general intensive care unit, can often be accompanied by a fair share of apprehension owing to the intricacy of care. Rather than discussing common obstetric emergencies and their management, we would like to call attention to basic principles that are fundamental in the care of a complicated OB intensive care patient. Understanding the physiologic changes of each trimester and the layers of management is imperative. Having a strong, fundamental knowledge of the plethora of medications and their safety profiles will ensure optimal patient care and dissolve the uncertainty surrounding this unique patient population. What follows is a literature review on sedation, analgesia, airway management, mechanical ventilation and cardiovascular support for critically ill obstetric patients.
Source: Trends in Anaesthesia and Critical Care - Category: Anesthesiology Source Type: research