Remote Obstetric Anesthesia: Leveraging Telemedicine to Improve Fetal and Maternal Outcomes

Abstract

In the United States, the prevalence of pregnancy-related deaths has risen significantly over the past 20 years. Pregnant women at high risk for peripartum complications should undergo anesthesia consultation before delivery so that a management plan can be created between the obstetrician, anesthesiologist, and patient to ensure optimal outcomes for both the mother and newborn. However, few hospitals outside of major, urban, academic medical centers have dedicated anesthesiologists specially trained in obstetric anesthesia and the resources available to expedite optimization of high-risk parturient comorbidities. Telemedicine is a valuable tool by which evaluation, triaging, and multidisciplinary coordination can be provided for high-risk obstetric patients living in remote or rural communities without access to specialized, maternal care medical facilities. This review examines the existing literature regarding telemedicine use in preoperative anesthesia and antenatal obstetrics and identifies areas for future research. Furthermore, the benefits and potential barriers of implementing a telemedicine program specifically dedicated to obstetric anesthesia are discussed.

Keywords: e-health; telehealth; telemedicine; telesurgery.