Pregnancy, labor, and delivery are accompanied by physiological changes that impact on the use of the drugs to which they are exposed. The anesthesiologist needs to understand the principal differences in management of this particular population. The study of the main pharmacokinetic changes associated with pregnancy is relevant for the proper management of drugs to avoid adverse effects. The objective of this chapter is to review the physiological changes that impact on the pharmacokinetics of the pregnant woman with a focus on local anesthetics of the amide type, specifically bupivacaine, and the main studies that have led to a deeper understanding.
Part of the book: Topics in Local Anesthetics