Preanaesthetic management of the obstetric patient.

The obstetric patient presents unique challenges to the anaesthesiologist. The physiologic changes in the mother during pregnancy and the anaesthetic implications of these changes, associated with the pathophysiologic conditions frequently superimposed on the pregnancy, distinguish the parturient from the other patients about to undergo anaesthesia and surgery. Furthermore, the obstetric patient may be in acute pain from labour and frequently needs urgent surgical intervention because of sudden changes in the condition of the mother or the fetus.