Chestnut's Obstetric Anesthesia
Principles and Practice
- 7th Edition - October 7, 2025
- Latest edition
- Editors: Cynthia A. Wong, Warwick D Ngan Kee, Lawrence C. Tsen, Yaakov Beilin, Jill M. Mhyre, Brian T. Bateman, Lisa Leffert, David H. Chestnut
- Language: English
Through six outstanding editions, Dr. David Chestnut’s Obstetric Anesthesia has earned its reputation as the leading reference in the field. The fully revised Seventh Edition con… Read more
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Through six outstanding editions, Dr. David Chestnut’s Obstetric Anesthesia has earned its reputation as the leading reference in the field. The fully revised Seventh Edition continues this tradition of excellence, offering comprehensive, user-friendly, and authoritative clinical information you need to provide optimal care to your patients. From basic science to new research and improved anesthesia techniques to the management of complications, the expert editorial team and contributing authors offer complete coverage of the physiology and pharmacology of obstetric anesthesia for both healthy and high-risk pregnancies. This updated edition remains a must-have resource for obstetric anesthesiologists and obstetricians, nurse anesthetists and anesthesiology assistants, and anesthesiology and obstetric residents and students.
- Presents the latest information on anesthesia techniques for labor and delivery and the anesthesia care of women with medical disorders during pregnancy, emphasizing the treatment of the fetus and the mother as separate patients with distinct needs
- Discusses key topics such as neuraxial labor analgesia, including epidural, combined spinal-epidural, and dural-puncture epidural techniques; epidural-related maternal fever; neuraxial and general anesthesia for Cesarean delivery; postoperative analgesia; anesthesia for non-obstetric procedures during pregnancy; multidisciplinary care of high-risk obstetric patients; patient safety on the labor and delivery unit; care of mothers with substance use disorders; and more
- Contains new chapters on racial and ethnic disparities in obstetric anesthesia care and obstetric anesthesia in the developing world
- Features extensive revisions from cover to cover, including new content on POCUS, COVID-19, enhanced recovery after Cesarean delivery, and chronic pain after childbirth
- Incorporates the latest guidelines on congenital heart disease and the management of sepsis, as well as difficult airway guidelines that are specific to obstetric anesthesia practice
- Offers abundant figures, tables, and boxes that illustrate the step-by-step management of a full range of clinical scenarios
- An eBook version is included with purchase. The eBook allows you to access all of the text, figures, and references, with the ability to search, customize your content, make notes and highlights, and have content read aloud. Additional digital ancillary content may publish up to 6 weeks following the publication date
Obstetric anesthesiologists; anesthesiology residents; anesthesiologists in clinical practice
PART I: Introduction
1. The History of Obstetric Anesthesia
PART II: Maternal and Fetal Physiology
2. Physiologic Changes of Pregnancy
3. Uteroplacental Blood Flow
4. The Placenta: Anatomy, Physiology, Transfer of Drugs, and Pathology
PART III: Fetal and Neonatal Assessment and Therapy
5. Fetal Physiology
6. Antepartum Fetal Assessment and Therapy
7. Anesthesia for Fetal Surgery and Other Intrauterine Procedures
8. Intrapartum Fetal Assessment and Therapy
9. Neonatal Assessment and Resuscitation
10. Fetal and Neonatal Neurologic Injury
11. Quality, Patient Safety, and Medical Error
PART IV: Foundations in Obstetric Anesthesia
12. Spinal and Epidural Analgesia and Anesthesia: Anatomy, Physiology, and Technique
13. Local Anesthetics and Opioids
14. Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Obstetric Anesthesia Care
15. Obstetric Anesthesia in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
PART V: Anesthesia Before and During Pregnancy
16. Pharmacology During Pregnancy and Lactation
17. Problems of Early Pregnancy
18. Nonobstetric Surgery During Pregnancy
PART VI: Labor and Delivery Vaginal Delivery
19. Obstetric Management of Labor and Vaginal Delivery
20. Trial of Labor and Vaginal Birth After Cesarean Delivery
21. The Pain of Childbirth and Its Effect on the Mother and the Fetus
22. Childbirth Preparation and Nonpharmacologic Analgesia
23. Systemic and Nonneuraxial Regional Labor Analgesia
24. Epidural and Spinal Analgesia: Anesthesia for Labor and Vaginal Delivery
25. Postpartum Tubal Sterilization
PART VII: Cesarean Delivery
26. Anesthesia for Cesarean Delivery
27. Postoperative Analgesia
PART VIII: Anesthesia Complications
28. Aspiration: Risk, Prophylaxis, and Treatment
29. The Difficult Airway: Risk, Assessment, Prophylaxis, and Management
30. Postpartum Headache
31. Neurologic Complications of Pregnancy and Neuraxial Anesthesia
32. Shared Decision-Making and Informed Consent in Obstetric Anesthesia
PART IX: Obstetric Complications
33. Preterm Labor and Delivery
34. Abnormal Presentation and Multiple Gestation
35. Hypertensive Disorders
36. Infection
37. Antepartum and Postpartum Hemorrhage
38. Embolic Disorders
PART X: The Patient With Systemic Disease
39. Maternal Mortality
40. Autoimmune Disorders
41. Cardiovascular Disease
42. Chronic Pain During and After Pregnancy
43. Endocrine Disorders
44. Hematologic and Coagulation Disorders
45. Liver Disease
46. Musculoskeletal Disorders
47. Neurologic and Neuromuscular Disease
48. Obesity
49. Psychiatric Disorders
50. Renal Disease
51. Respiratory Disease
52. Substance Use Disorders
53. Trauma and Critical Care
1. The History of Obstetric Anesthesia
PART II: Maternal and Fetal Physiology
2. Physiologic Changes of Pregnancy
3. Uteroplacental Blood Flow
4. The Placenta: Anatomy, Physiology, Transfer of Drugs, and Pathology
PART III: Fetal and Neonatal Assessment and Therapy
5. Fetal Physiology
6. Antepartum Fetal Assessment and Therapy
7. Anesthesia for Fetal Surgery and Other Intrauterine Procedures
8. Intrapartum Fetal Assessment and Therapy
9. Neonatal Assessment and Resuscitation
10. Fetal and Neonatal Neurologic Injury
11. Quality, Patient Safety, and Medical Error
PART IV: Foundations in Obstetric Anesthesia
12. Spinal and Epidural Analgesia and Anesthesia: Anatomy, Physiology, and Technique
13. Local Anesthetics and Opioids
14. Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Obstetric Anesthesia Care
15. Obstetric Anesthesia in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
PART V: Anesthesia Before and During Pregnancy
16. Pharmacology During Pregnancy and Lactation
17. Problems of Early Pregnancy
18. Nonobstetric Surgery During Pregnancy
PART VI: Labor and Delivery Vaginal Delivery
19. Obstetric Management of Labor and Vaginal Delivery
20. Trial of Labor and Vaginal Birth After Cesarean Delivery
21. The Pain of Childbirth and Its Effect on the Mother and the Fetus
22. Childbirth Preparation and Nonpharmacologic Analgesia
23. Systemic and Nonneuraxial Regional Labor Analgesia
24. Epidural and Spinal Analgesia: Anesthesia for Labor and Vaginal Delivery
25. Postpartum Tubal Sterilization
PART VII: Cesarean Delivery
26. Anesthesia for Cesarean Delivery
27. Postoperative Analgesia
PART VIII: Anesthesia Complications
28. Aspiration: Risk, Prophylaxis, and Treatment
29. The Difficult Airway: Risk, Assessment, Prophylaxis, and Management
30. Postpartum Headache
31. Neurologic Complications of Pregnancy and Neuraxial Anesthesia
32. Shared Decision-Making and Informed Consent in Obstetric Anesthesia
PART IX: Obstetric Complications
33. Preterm Labor and Delivery
34. Abnormal Presentation and Multiple Gestation
35. Hypertensive Disorders
36. Infection
37. Antepartum and Postpartum Hemorrhage
38. Embolic Disorders
PART X: The Patient With Systemic Disease
39. Maternal Mortality
40. Autoimmune Disorders
41. Cardiovascular Disease
42. Chronic Pain During and After Pregnancy
43. Endocrine Disorders
44. Hematologic and Coagulation Disorders
45. Liver Disease
46. Musculoskeletal Disorders
47. Neurologic and Neuromuscular Disease
48. Obesity
49. Psychiatric Disorders
50. Renal Disease
51. Respiratory Disease
52. Substance Use Disorders
53. Trauma and Critical Care
- Edition: 7
- Latest edition
- Published: October 7, 2025
- Language: English
CW
Cynthia A. Wong
Cynthia A. Wong is Professor and Chair, Department of Anesthesia, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa.
Affiliations and expertise
Professor and Chair, Department of Anesthesia, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USAWN
Warwick D Ngan Kee
Warwick D. Ngan Kee is the Director of Obstetric Anaesthesia at The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Affiliations and expertise
Director of Obstetric Anaesthesia, The Chinese University of Hong KongLT
Lawrence C. Tsen
Lawrence C. Tsen is Associate Professor of Anaesthesia, Harvard Medical School; Director of Anesthesia, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Associate Director, Center for Professionalism and Peer Support Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
Affiliations and expertise
Associate Professor of Anaesthesia, Harvard Medical School; Director of Anesthesia, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Associate Director, Center for Professionalism and Peer Support Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts., USAYB
Yaakov Beilin
Yaakov Beilin is Professor of Anesthesiology and Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science, Vice Chair for Quality, Department of Anesthesiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Affiliations and expertise
Professor of Anesthesiology and Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science, Vice Chair for Quality, Department of Anesthesiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, USAJM
Jill M. Mhyre
Jill M. Mhyre is The Dola S Thompson Professor, Director of Obstetric Anesthesia, Vice-Chair for Research, Department of Anesthesiology, The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Affiliations and expertise
The Dola S Thompson Professor, Director of Obstetric Anesthesia, Vice-Chair for Research, Department of Anesthesiology, The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, USABB
Brian T. Bateman
Brian T. Bateman is Associate Professor of Anaesthesia, Harvard Medical School; Chief of Obstetric Anesthesia, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
Affiliations and expertise
Associate Professor of Anaesthesia, Harvard Medical School; Chief of Obstetric Anesthesia, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USALL
Lisa Leffert
Affiliations and expertise
Professor and Chair, Department of Anesthesiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, ConnecticutDC
David H. Chestnut
David H. Chestnut is Professor of Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee.
Affiliations and expertise
Professor of Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA