RT Book, Section
A1 Santos, Alan
A1 Saloum, Migdalia
A2 Santos, Alan C.
A2 Epstein, Jonathan N.
A2 Chaudhuri, Kallol
SR Print(0)
ID 1108524656
T1 Substance Abuse and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus
T2 Obstetric Anesthesia
YR 2015
FD 2015
PB McGraw-Hill Education
PP New York, NY
SN 9780071786133
LK accessanesthesiology.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1108524656
RD 2024/04/24
AB The  prevalence  of  substance  abuse  in  women  of  reproductive  age  has  increased  markedly  over  the  past  20  years.  Thus,  it  is  likely  that  an  anesthesiologist  will  encounter  a  pregnant  woman  who  abuses  illicit  drugs.1  A  combination  of  drug  abuse  and  related  social  ills  can  lead  to  poor  fetal  outcomes  and  serious  maternal  morbidity  or  even  mortality.2  Anesthesiologists  are  likely  to  first  meet  drug-abusing  parturients  in  an  acute  setting,  either  when  labor  analgesia  is  requested  or  in  an  emergency  situation  such  as  fetal  distress,  placental  abruption,  uterine  rupture,  or  sudden  onset  of  maternal  dysrhythmias.  These  women  often  have  not  had  the  benefit  of  prenatal  care.  Risk  factors  associated  with  drug  abuse  include  lack  of  prenatal  care,  history  of  premature  labor,  and  cigarette  smoking.3  The  possibility  of  drug  abuse  should  also  be  considered  if  there  is  an  unanticipated  untoward  reaction  to  an  otherwise  routine  anesthetic.