Recognizing that each patient's labor and delivery experience is unique, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Practice Guidelines for Obstetric Anesthesia were recently revised to enhance the quality of anesthetic care for obstetric patients, improve patient safety by reducing the incidence and severity of anesthesia-related complications, and increase patient satisfaction.
The revised Practice Guidelines for Obstetric Anesthesia, featured in the April issue of the journal Anesthesiology, focus on the latest evidence-based recommendations for anesthetic management of women during labor, through operative and nonoperative delivery, postpartum care and pain control. The guidelines also provide key information for patients to be aware of before receiving anesthetics during labor.
“Not all women require anesthetic care during labor and delivery,” said Joy L. Hawkins, M.D., chair, ASA Task Force on Practice Guidelines for Obstetric Anesthesia. “If a patient does request pain relief during labor and delivery, there are many analgesic (pain relief) techniques available. The options will depend on the patient's medical status, the progress of labor and the resources available at the treating facility.”
Key recommendations addressed by the ASA Task Force on Practice Guidelines for Obstetric Anesthesia in the revised guidelines include: