Anesthetic management of labor and delivery in patients with elevated intracranial pressure

• Focal and diffuse etiologies of increased intracranial pressure are discussed.
• A review of anesthetic techniques in the parturient with intracranial pathology is highlighted.
• Strategies to minimize rises in intracranial pressure during cesarean delivery are presented.

The anesthetic management of labor and delivery in patients with elevated intracranial pressure is complex. This review discusses the etiologies of diffuse and focal pathologies which lead to elevated intracranial pressure in pregnancy. The role of neuraxial and general anesthesia in the management of labor and delivery is also examined. Finally, a comprehensive review of strategies to minimize increases in intracranial pressure during general anesthesia for cesarean delivery is presented.