Anesthesia for the Pregnant HIV Patient

Numbers of HIV-infected individuals across the globe are increasing, as is the proportion of women infected with HIV. However, better understanding of the HIV virus, and rapidly evolving treatments has provided hope for millions of people world-wide. In the pregnant population, recent understanding of factors influencing vertical transmission has enabled dramatic reductions in mother-to-child transmission. The anesthesiologist is likely to encounter HIV-infected parturients in the delivery suite as part of routine practice, and should be aware of the current trends in obstetric—as well as anesthetic—best practice and management.