Clinical Sections

Obstetrics & Gynecological Anesthesiology

Round-the-clock coverage of the labor and delivery floor is our subspecialty commitment. The team on labor and delivery provides elective labor analgesia and anesthesia for cesarean deliveries. Consultative services for the high-risk obstetric patient are provided, and the Section actively participates in the multi-disciplinary management of high-risk parturients. Clinical outcomes and the assessment of the use of dilute local anesthetic/opioid combinations continue to be a focus of clinical research.

The Section continues to provide patient education classes twice a month to give all patients the opportunity to become familiar with analgesic options for labor and delivery.

We continue to maintain a computerized database of all pertinent information on patients receiving anesthesia or analgesia on Labor and Delivery. This mechanism facilitates the ongoing assessment of patient outcomes and provides patient information for CQI as well as clinical research. Information compiled from this report was presented at the American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) and Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology (SOAP) meetings.

Outside of Labor and Delivery, the Section also provides faculty coverage for the Acute/Inpatient Pain Management Service. Additionally, all individuals in the Section provide anesthetic care in the Ambulatory operating rooms (AMOR) and South Pavilion operating rooms (SPOR), caring primarily for gynecologic surgery patients.

Residents spend two months in their CA-1 and CA-2 years and at least two months of their CA-3 year in obstetric anesthesia. All residents become proficient in providing care for the routine parturient. At the CA-3 level, emphasis is placed on management of the high-risk patient. The CA-3 resident participates in daily high-risk rounds and assists with the high-risk consultations and care of the high-risk parturient.