Physiological Changes in Pregnancy and Anesthetic Implications

Description

Pregnancy affects most organ systems. Many of these physiological changes appear to be adaptive and useful to the mother in tolerating the stress of pregnancy, labor and delivery. Anesthesia and surgery during pregnancy are associated with an increased risk of miscarriage, premature birth, low birth weight infants and infant death. Pregnancy and its changes is a normal physiological process that happens for the development of fetus. These changes happen in response to many factors such as hormonal changes, increase in the total blood volume, weight gain and increase in fetus size. Physiologic changes in pregnancy also induce profound alterations to the pharmacokinetic properties of many medications. These changes affect distribution, absorption, metabolism and excretion of drugs. This video explain in detail about the physiological changes occur during pregnancy in various systems.