Practical points in the care of the obstetric surgical patient

Although not all PACUs provide care to patients postcesarean section, most PACUs do provide care to patients who are either pregnant for nonobstetric surgery or for patients terminating pregnancy. Although all of these patients will have postanesthetic priorities of airway, oxygenation, and cardiac stability, these priorities are intensified because of the physiological changes associated with pregnancy. Knowledge of these physiological changes can help increase the PACU nurse's ability to understand and meet the needs of the obstetric patient in the PACU.