Maternal Physiological Changes During Pregnancy, Labor, and the Postpartum Period -- Local Anesthetic Pharmacology -- Perinatal Pharmacology -- Drug Interactions and Obstetric Anesthesia -- Uteroplacental Blood Flow -- Physiology of Labor and Delivery -- Relief of Labor Pain by Systemic Medication -- Spinal Opiates in Obstetrics -- Effect of Maternally Administered Anesthetics and Analgesics on Neonates and Neurobehavioral Testing -- Fetal Monitoring -- Relief of Labor Pain by Regional Analgesia/Anesthesia -- Anesthesia for Cesarean Delivery -- High-Risk Pregnancy -- Neonatal Resuscitation -- Postpartum Tubal Ligation -- Anesthesia for Surgery During Pregnancy -- In Vitro Fertilization -- Maternal Mortality and Morbidity.

As the field of obstetric anesthesia continues to change rapidly, both in technique and in specific pharmaceutical agents used, it is essential for all practitioners caring for the pregnant patient to be familiar with current anesthetic protocols and general concepts in obstetric anesthesia. The Handbook appeals to a wide audience, as it was written with the practicing anesthesiologists in mind, as well as nurse anesthetists, obstetricians, housestaff, and residents. The Obstetric Anesthesia Handbook supplies expert advice on every facet of anesthesia for childbirth and related obstetric procedures. The text is authoritative, succinct, and highly practical. It is accompanied by over 100 illustrations and tables making the text a convenient reference to the busy practitioner. The Handbook is also a natural companion to the recently published, Anesthetic and Obstetric Management of High-Risk Pregnancy, also by Dr. Datta.