HIGH-RISK PREGNANCY

Authors
Citation
D. Brighouse, HIGH-RISK PREGNANCY, Bailliere's clinical anaesthesiology, 9(4), 1995, pp. 691-711
Citations number
NO
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Anesthesiology
ISSN journal
0950-3501
Volume
9
Issue
4
Year of publication
1995
Pages
691 - 711
Database
ISI
SICI code
0950-3501(1995)9:4<691:HP>2.0.ZU;2-O
Abstract
The report on Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths (CEMD) in th e United Kingdom (and previously England and Wales) is published every three years (HMSO, 1991, 1994). In addition to presentation of cases and statistics, a series of recommendations is made. Consecutive repor ts have identified the need for multidisciplinary teams to decide mana gement of high risk obstetric patients, and for early identification, consultation and planning between obstetricians and anaesthetists for these patients. A recent review of medical complications in pregnancy highlights the need for modified antenatal care and a 'team approach' for such patients (Maresh, 1990), but makes no attempt to suggest how this can be achieved. Our maternity unit has developed a structured sy stem for identifying antenatal patients with medical or anaesthetic pr oblems that may constitute additional risks to their pregnancy or deli very. These women are then seen in a multidisciplinary antenatal clini c by the obstetric anaesthetist and an obstetrician, and a physician w hen appropriate. This review of high risk pregnancy does not aim to be completely comprehensive, but discusses some of the most commonly see n problems in one UK teaching hospital maternity unit.