Obstetric Anesthesia Core Knowledge Modules-Preanesthesia Evaluation Checklist

Preanesthesia Evaluation Checklist

Pdf Summary

The checklist guides an obstetric preanesthesia interview, focused examination, and discussion of labor epidural analgesia.<br /><br />The clinician confirms the patient’s identity and reviews allergies, medications, blood thinner use, prenatal care, and any additional concerns. They ask about relevant medical history, including respiratory, neurologic, back, gastrointestinal, cardiac, endocrine, liver, substance-use, infectious, and cancer-related conditions, as well as prior anesthesia procedures and personal or family complications.<br /><br />The focused examination includes questions about teeth, jaw function, and neck mobility, followed—with permission—by an airway assessment and heart and lung examination. Available laboratory results are reviewed.<br /><br />The clinician asks about the patient’s pain-management preferences and explains the epidural procedure: skin preparation, local anesthetic, needle and catheter placement, needle removal, expected sensations, and the test dose. Patients are encouraged to report discomfort. The discussion covers the aim of improving comfort while supporting labor and pushing, possible medication adjustments, assisted repositioning, and reassessment.<br /><br />Risks reviewed include infection, temporary nerve symptoms, rare permanent nerve injury, intravascular catheter placement, medication reactions, and severe headache after unintended dural puncture. The clinician also explains that an existing labor epidural may be used for cesarean anesthesia with additional or different medication.<br /><br />Before concluding, the clinician invites questions, checks understanding as part of consent, and explains how to request an epidural and contact the anesthesia team.

Keywords

obstetric preanesthesia

labor epidural analgesia

focused examination

patient consent

airway assessment

medical history review

epidural procedure

pain management

epidural risks

cesarean anesthesia