Pregnancy and COVID-19: what anesthesiologists should know

INTRODUCTION: Anesthetic management of parturients with COVID-19 is a big challenge to anesthesiologists. Limited data are available about COVID-19 during pregnancy; however, information on illnesses associated with SARS and MERS might provide insights into COVID-19's effects during pregnancy. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: Evidence from previous reports from SARS and MERS, and from COVID-19 cases were reviewed. Concepts from guidelines from the government and academic societies were collected as well. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: The evidence was described and summarized. CONCLUSIONS: Principles to minimize the risk of infection as well as optimize patients' safety during obstetric anesthesia were found to include careful evaluation, tight protection, and multi-discipline-based strategy. Though vertical transmission of COVID-19 still needs more definitive evidence, strict isolation is necessary for the newborn of COVID-19 mothers. Psychological support for the parturients is also an important issue during COVID-19 pandemic.