Anaesthesia for the HIV-positive parturient

Abstract

Some diseases have become so common in our practice that they tend to pass by unnoticed, after a while. HIV infection is one of these, While most HIV-positive patients cause us no reason for concern, a regular revisiting of some of disease-related issues is certainly worthwhile. Parturients are a fascinating group: seemingly young and healthy women present for procedures that aren’t even necessary as a result of pathology, and robust physiology aids them in passing through our hands relatively unscathed. However, when unusual things start happening, this sense of security can vanish frighteningly quickly.