Obstetric Anesthesia Glossary

Regional anesthetic technique involving injection of local anesthetic into the epidural space of the spine, commonly use...

Therapeutic procedure involving injection of autologous blood into the epidural space to seal a dural defect and treat p...

Small amount of epinephrine-containing local anesthetic used to detect intravascular injection during epidural catheter...

Inability to successfully place an endotracheal tube during general anesthesia induction, creating a potentially life-th...

A neuroendocrine reflex involving oxytocin release triggered by cervical and vaginal stretching during labor. Important...

Abnormally slow fetal heart rate, typically below 110 beats per minute, often indicating fetal compromise requiring urge...

Continuous electronic monitoring record of fetal heart rate patterns used to assess fetal well-being during labor and an...

An internal monitoring device attached directly to the fetal scalp to provide continuous, high-quality fetal heart rate...

The volume of air remaining in the lungs at the end of normal expiration. Significantly reduced in pregnancy, affecting...

Anesthetic technique involving loss of consciousness and total body muscle relaxation, used for emergency cesarean deliv...

A pregnant woman, or the number of times a woman has been pregnant regardless of outcome.

A severe form of preeclampsia characterized by hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count.

Significant fluctuations in blood pressure, heart rate, or cardiac output during obstetric procedures. Common with neura...

Local anesthetic solution with specific gravity greater than cerebrospinal fluid, causing gravitational spread in spinal...

Route of drug administration directly into the cerebrospinal fluid space, commonly used for spinal anesthesia in obstetr...

Narcotic analgesic administered directly into the cerebrospinal fluid to provide prolonged postoperative pain relief.

Additional bolus dose of local anesthetic given through an existing epidural catheter to extend anesthesia for cesarean...

Manual or positional technique to move the gravid uterus off the inferior vena cava to prevent aortocaval compression.

The S-enantiomer of bupivacaine with reduced cardiotoxicity, used for obstetric neuraxial anesthesia and analgesia.

Supine position with hips flexed and legs elevated in stirrups, used for perineal procedures and deliveries.

Monitored anesthesia care providing sedation and analgesia while maintaining patient consciousness and spontaneous breat...

Medication used for seizure prophylaxis in preeclampsia that affects neuromuscular blocking agents and anesthetic requir...

Airway assessment tool used to predict difficult intubation by evaluating visibility of oropharyngeal structures, partic...

Decrease in maternal blood pressure commonly occurring after neuraxial anesthesia due to sympathetic blockade.