Pharmacologie du placenta et passage transplacentaire des agents anesthésiques

Placental transfer of anesthetic agents is driven by a diffusion process. Most of anesthetic agents, except muscle relaxants, diffuse rapidly through placenta. There is consequently a risk of respiratory depression in neonates that can be prevented by following guidelines of administration. However, it is also necessary to consider the foetal consequences of the administration of anaesthetic agents in parturients, especially those related to the occurrence of hypotension.