The management of HIV patients during surgery and in the delivery ward: anesthetic considerations

To date a total of more than 50 million individuals worldwide have been infected with HIV and more than 20 million have died from the disease. Two thirds of the known carriers of HIV 36 million worldwide, live in Africa. In Israel, as of December 31, 2000, there are a total of 2,843 reported carriers and 165 persons alive with AIDS. On the basis of future projections of increasing incidence of HIV/AIDS in obstetric patients undergoing anesthesia and surgery, obstetricians and anesthesiologists should be aware of the disease and its impact on anesthetic techniques and possible interactions between anesthetic drugs and HIV therapeutic agents. Surgical staff members should be knowledgeable and updated concerning safety precautions during surgical and anesthetic procedures.