Abstract
Pregnant women may require intensive care because of complications of the pregnancy itself or as a result of nonobstetric conditions. In either setting, care of the critically ill pregnant woman requires knowledge of the primary disease process and its treatment in nonpregnant patients and a thorough understanding of maternal physiologic adaptations to pregnancy. Because there are frequently no data or literature that could guide intensive care of the pregnant patient, knowledge of maternal physiologic condition must be used to interpret and implement therapies that are studied only in nonpregnant patients. Thus, care should be provided by or in consultation with a maternal fetal medicine specialist or obstetrician who is thoroughly familiar with the management of high-risk pregnancies. © 2006 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.