[Vascular filling and vasopressors: effects on the fetus and the newborn infant].

Epidural analgesia and anaesthesia are more and more commonly used in modern obstetrical anaesthesia practice leading to the frequent use of fluid infusion and vasopressors. Fetal and neonatal effects of these treatments are reviewed here and may be summarized as follows: 1) Prolonged and/or severe maternal arterial hypotension may induce fetal hypoxia and acidosis, especially when fetal status is already compromised (uteroplacental insufficiency). 2) Preventive fluid hydratation with crystalloids associated with left uterine displacement are always useful to avoid maternal hypotension. 3) Dextrose-containing solutions are undesirable for the prevention of treatment of maternal hypotension as they may induce delayed neonatal hypoglycemia. 4) When the parturient is correctly hydrated, the rapid use of intravenous ephedrine is efficient in restoring normal maternal arterial pressure and has no deleterious effect on the fetus and the newborn. Finally, rapid, repetitive and non-invasive monitoring of maternal arterial pressure is the prerequisite to a rapid management of maternal hypotension which is essential to avoid any deleterious effect to the fetus and the neonate.