New Trends in Fetal Anesthesia

Fetal anesthesia teams must understand the pathophysiology and rationale for the treatment of each disease process. Treatment can range from minimally invasive procedures to maternal laparotomy, hysterotomy, and major fetal surgery. Timing may be in early, mid-, or late gestation. Techniques continue to be refined, and the anesthetic plans must evolve to meet the needs of the procedures. Anesthetic plans range from moderate sedation to general anesthesia that includes monitoring of 2 patients simultaneously, fluid restriction, invasive blood pressure monitoring, vasopressor administration, and advanced medication choices to optimize fetal cardiac function.