Anesthesia in the pregnant woman

Obviously, the necessity for surgery and anesthesia during pregnancy has the potential for tragedy in terms of fetal wastage. Modern anesthesia and surgery have overcome the major problems, present at the turn of the century, of maternal morbidity and mortality associated with anesthesia and surgery on the pregnant patient. There is no evidence that a single acute exposure to modern anesthetic agents precludes a successful pregnancy. Aggressive use of modern monitoring techniques for both mother and fetus, together with sensitivity to the very real personal tragedy for the expectant mother who must undergo urgent or emergency surgery, seems to be the best approach for us to take.