This is the first text to systematically review the evidence for obstetric anesthesia and analgesia. Evidence–based practice is now being embraced worldwide as a requirement for all clinicians; in the everyday use of anesthesia and analgesia for childbirth, anesthetists will find this synthesis of the best evidence an invaluable resource to inform their practice. Contributions from anesthetic specialists trained in the skills of systematic reviewing provide a comprehensive and practical guide to best practice in normal and caesarean section childbirth. This book, coming from one of the world’s leading obstetric centers and the cradle of evidence–based medicine, is a much needed addition to the obstetric anesthesia literature.