Complications of obstetric anaesthesia

SummaryThe obstetric anaesthetist has an increasing role to play in the provision of anaesthesia and analgesia for the parturient. Both regional and general anaesthesia carry with them the potential for complications, some of which, although rare, may be serious, life threatening and/or permanently disabling. Careful attention to detail in our anaesthetic practice will play an important role in minimizing their incidence. Measures to prevent and manage the following complications will be discussed: intubation problems, aspiration, awareness, hypotension, local anaesthetic toxicity, dural puncture and post-dural puncture headache, high regional blocks and neurological damage.