الفهرس 
Physiological Changes during PregnancyOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
D
uring pregnancy, there are major alterations in nearly every maternal organ system. These changes are initiated by hormones secreted by the corpus luteum and placenta. The mechanical effect of the enlarging uterus and compression of surrounding structures play an increasing role in the second and third trimesters. These changes include cardiovascular system, haematological system, respiratory system, neuro-axial system and musculo-skeletal changes. This altered physiologic state has important implications for the anaesthesiologist caring for the pregnant patient. There are also pharmacological changes during pregnancy which lead to change in the usual response to anaesthetics including inhalational anaesthetics, intravenous drugs and local anaesthetics.
These changes discussed briefly in order to pave the way for discussing anaesthesia for obstetric emergencies.
Pregnancy and parturition are considered high-risk when accompanied by conditions unfavorable to the well-being of the mother and/or fetus. Maternal problems may be related to pregnancy, such as pre-eclampsia, eclampsia and other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, or antepartum haemorrhage resulting from placenta previa or abruptio placentae. Prematurity; (gestation of less than 37 weeks), postmaturity; (42 weeks or more), intra-uterine growth retardation and multiple gestation are fetal conditions associated with risk. During labor and delivery fetal malpresentation; (breech, transverse lie), placental abruption, compression of the umbilical cord; (prolapsed nuchal cord), precipitous labor, or intrauterine infection (prolonged rupture of membranes) may increase the risk to the mother or the fetus. Therefore it is important to the anaesthesiologist to know the pathophysiology of these diseases thus the proper anaesthetic management.