Black Swan

It has been enormously satisfying to prepare the third edition of Anesthetic and Obstetric Management of High-Risk Pregnancy because it fulfills the need for close communication between two specialties, anesthesiology and obstetrics. This relationship is necessary not only to take care of the sick parturient, but also to deliver a healthy baby. New developments in obstetrics and in obstetric anesthesia necessitated this third edition. Most of the contributors to this edition are new, and they have provided information on the latest approaches, as well as updated information. In addition, Chapter 13, "e;Critical Care Anesthesia for High-Risk Parturients,"e; is completely new. Like earlier editions, the third edition includes contributions from an international team of experts in the field of obstetric anesthesia and obstetrics. I thank all the authors for their va- able contributions. The authors have expressed their own opinions and recommendations, which do not necessarily reflect my own views. I also wish to thank Ms. Elizabeth Kiernan for her endless help in completing the new edition. I sincerely hope this edition will further reinforce the concept of the team approach for taking care of the high-risk parturient.