Respiratory care of the critically ill pregnant patient

Abstract

Acute respiratory failure in pregnancy is a significant cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. The pregnant patient is at risk of severe pulmonary complications related to obstetric conditions unique to pregnancy as well as being predisposed to a variety of other pulmonary insults. Treatment of these patients requires familiarity with the normal changes in cardiorespiratory physiology accompanying pregnancy as well as a knowledge of pregnancy-specific conditions such as amniotic fluid embolism and tocolytic pulmonary edema. The effects of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions on the fetus must be considered. This article reviews the etiology and management of some important causes of acute respiratory failure in pregnancy, highlighting new developments.