Anesthetic management of labor and delivery in patients with elevated intracranial pressure

J A Anson; S Vaida; D M Giampetro; P M McQuillan

doi:10.1016/j.ijoa.2015.01.004

Anesthetic management of labor and delivery in patients with elevated intracranial pressure

Int J Obstet Anesth. 2015 May;24(2):147-60. doi: 10.1016/j.ijoa.2015.01.004. Epub 2015 Jan 19.

Authors

J A Anson¹, S Vaida², D M Giampetro², P M McQuillan²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Anesthesiology, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, USA. Electronic address: janson@hmc.psu.edu.
² Department of Anesthesiology, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, USA.

PMID: 25794413
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijoa.2015.01.004

Abstract

The anesthetic management of labor and delivery in patients with elevated intracranial pressure is complex. This review discusses the etiologies of diffuse and focal pathologies which lead to elevated intracranial pressure in pregnancy. The role of neuraxial and general anesthesia in the management of labor and delivery is also examined. Finally, a comprehensive review of strategies to minimize increases in intracranial pressure during general anesthesia for cesarean delivery is presented.

Keywords: Analgesia; Anesthesia; Intracranial pressure; Pregnancy.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Anesthesia, General / methods
Anesthesia, Obstetrical / methods*
Cesarean Section
Delivery, Obstetric*
Female
Humans
Intracranial Hypertension / complications*
Intracranial Hypertension / physiopathology*
Labor, Obstetric*
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications / physiopathology*