Seminars in pediatric surgery
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Fetal surgery pushes the limits of knowledge and therapy beyond conventional paradigms by treating the developing fetus as a patient. Providing anesthesia for fetal surgery is challenging for many reasons. It requires integration of both obstetric and pediatric anesthesia practice. ⋯ Work is needed to study possible neurotoxicity caused by exposure of the developing brain to anesthetic agents. The effects of stress on the developing fetus also must be further delineated. Anesthetic techniques vary by institution, and prospective studies to determine optimal anesthetic regimens are warranted.