Running an obstetric anesthesia training program: words of wisdom.

Obstetric anesthesia, by definition, is a subspecialty of anesthesia dedicated (devoted) to peripartum, perioperative, pain and anesthetic management of women during pregnancy and the puerperium. Today, obstetric anesthesia has become a recognized subspecialty of anesthesiology and an integral part of practice of most anesthesiologists. Perhaps no other subspecialty of anesthesiology provides more personal gratification than the practice of obstetric anesthesia. An obstetric anesthesiologist has become an essential member of the obstetric care team, who closely works with the obstetrician, midwife, neonatologist and labor and delivery nurse to ensure the high-quality care for the parturient and her baby. Communication skills and exchange of information in ever changing environment of labor and delivery is essential for perfect outcome, which is always expected when providing safe passage for both the mother and her fetus from antepartum to postpartum period. The anesthesiologist's unique skills in acute resuscitation combined with experience in critical care make members of this subspecialty of anesthesiology particularly valuable in peripartum care of the high-risk patients, extending the anesthesiologist's role well beyond the routine provision of intrapartum anesthesia or analgesia.