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Advances in obstetric anesthesia: anesthesia for fetal intrapartum operations on placental support

Journal of Anesthesia volume 21, pages 243–251 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Fetal intrapartum operations on placental support (OOPS), also known as ex-utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT) procedures, are very rare (and often challenging) surgical techniques designed to allow partial delivery (cesarean section) of a fetus with a potentially difficult airway, with subsequent management of the neonatal airway (direct laryngoscopy, fiberoptic bronchoscopy, or tracheostomy) while oxygenation is continuously maintained via the placenta (on placental support). The peripartum management of pregnant women and their fetuses undergoing OOPS is very complex and multidisciplinary, and differs greatly from that of standard cesarean sections. The goal of this article is to review the current recommendations for the peripartum anesthetic management of pregnant women carrying fetuses with fetal congenital malformations undergoing OOPS.

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Affiliations

  1. Departments of Anesthesiology and Reproductive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California, USA

    Krzysztof M. Kuczkowski

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  1. Krzysztof M. Kuczkowski
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Additional information

Presented in part at the XVIII FIGO World Congress of Gynecology and Obstetrics in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on November 8, 2006, in the session entitled “Labor and Delivery.”

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Cite this article

Kuczkowski, K. Advances in obstetric anesthesia: anesthesia for fetal intrapartum operations on placental support. J Anesth 21, 243–251 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00540-006-0502-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00540-006-0502-x

Key words

  • Cesarean section
  • Obstetric anesthesia
  • Fetal surgery
  • Operations on placental support (OOPS)
  • Ex-utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT) procedure