This tutorial explores the perioperative management of obstetric patients with haemoglobinopathies, focusing on sickle cell disease and thalassaemia. It covers pathophysiology, antenatal care, labour and anaesthetic management, emphasising multidisciplinary collaboration and individualised care for optimal maternal and neonatal outcomes.

This article explores the development and implementation of new 'early warning' and risk prediction scores. It also reviews the current guidance on providing and implementing enhanced maternal and critical care services.

This tutorial covers the prevention and treatment of postpartum haemorrhage using uterotonics and tranexamic acid focusing on dosing, timing, efficacy and side effects to guide clinical practice.

This tutorial provides comprehensive insights on the anesthetic management of foetal interventions, including minimally invasive, open mid-gestation, and EXIT procedures. It covers indications, pertinent maternal and fetal physiology, anaesthetic techniques, foetal resuscitation, postoperative care, and potential complications.

This tutorial covers the classification of Takayasu’s Arteritis, the antepartum considerations of pregnant patients with Takayasu’s Arteritis and the anaesthetic considerations when managing obstetric patients with Takayasu’s arteritis in the intra-partum and post-partum period.

Obstetric transfers represent a clinical and psychological challenge for the pre-hospital or retrieval clinician. This tutorial covers some basics of transfer decision making using case-based examples of common obstetric scenarios, alongside explanations of common obstetric emergencies.

Placenta preavia and placenta accreta spectrum disorders are increasingly common and raise the risk of maternal and neonatal morbidity. An understanding of the surgical approach and common anaesthesia-related complications and management options are outlined in this tutorial.

This tutorial discusses the anaesthetic management of intrapartum caesarean delivery in parturients with pre-existing epidural catheter for labour analgesia. Use of epidural catheter to convert analgesia into surgical anaesthesia is elaborated. Prevention of a failed conversion and alternate management options...

This tutorial reviews the haemodynamic changes in pregnancy and discusses the current evidence for various non-invasive and minimally-invasive CO monitoring techniques and their role in the management of conditions including heart disease, significant blood loss, and severe pre-eclampsia.

This tutorial explains how to evaluate neuraxial anaesthesia in the obstetric patient. It details the complications of neuraxial anaesthesia and aids in the decision making process when to investigate further and the order of such investigations and their timing. The...

This tutorial reviews post dural puncture headaches (PDPH), a complication of spinal and epidural anesthesia. The pathogenesis, diagnosis, prevention, and management of PDPH is covered, including pharmacological treatments, epidural blood patches, and the emerging sphenopalatine ganglion block.

This tutorial summarises various types of myopathies and their physiological effects in pregnancy. It describes the commonly associated obstetric and anaesthetic complications and their management. It is important for anaesthetists to understand different clinical aspects of myopathies in order to...

This tutorial discusses best practices in the anaesthetic management of caesarean delivery, one of the commonest surgeries performed globally. It includes technical aspects of neuraxial anaesthesia, concerns regarding general anaesthesia, prevention and treatment of spinal-induced hypotension, safe administration of uterotonics...

This tutorial covers the pertinent anaesthetic considerations for patients undergoing a trial of labor after caesarean (TOLAC) with the aim of vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC). The tutorial includes a discussion on the benefits of epidural analgesia and the diagnosis...

This tutorial discusses the benefits, contraindications and considerations of establishing epidural analgesia that enables women to be more ambulatory during labour.

This tutorial covers a brief overview of Myasthenia Gravis and focusses on the considerations in pregnancy. It highlights specific concerns for the anaesthetist including the potential for respiratory compromise, bulbar involvement and autonomic dysfunction; and recommendations for the anaesthetic management...

Pregnant women with platelet and/or coagulation disorders are more susceptible to bleeding complications during the antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum periods. This tutorial focusses on the principles of their management relevant to the anaesthetists.

The COVID-19 pandemic presents the potential to encounter pregnant patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19. This tutorial covers the anaesthetic management of pregnant patients with COVID-19, including an overview of effects of COVID-19 on the mother and fetus, management considerations,...

This tutorial covers the neuraxial analgesia/anaesthesia-related complications and their management in obstetric patients. Complications are divided into four main categories including neurological, cardiovascular, drug related and miscellaneous. This tutorial includes up-to-date recommendations related to neuraxial blocks.

Failed tracheal intubation is more common in the obstetric population despite widespread adoption of failed intubation drills and equipment advances. This tutorial provides a practical approach to safe obstetric airway management and the actions to take when problems arise including...