Fetal Analgesia: A Conundrum For the Physiologist, A Tenet For the Surgeon

Fetal surgery is a promising field of medicine: many hospitals across the world perform it to prevent severe consequences from untreated diseases before birth. Most centers use analgesic and anesthetic drugs to prevent pain in both mother and fetus. Nonetheless, there is no consensus on the preferred analgesic strategy in these cases. This is further complicated by the controversy that still exists over whether fetuses can feel pain. This conundrum can be resolved only with the mutual support of several specialists in different branches of clinics, biology, and chemistry.

The goal of this special issue is to collect evidence on whether or not fetuses feel pain and from what stage in their development. Experiences of fetal pain treatment during prenatal surgery are welcome, as well as those on the drawbacks of excess or lack of fetal anesthesia. We aim to give new insight into this controversial field, with the experiences of gynecologists, neonatologists, anesthetists, palliatives, pharmacologists, endocrinologists, and neurologists.

We welcome the submission of manuscripts including, but not limited to, the following topics:
• Physiology of pain pathways in the fetus and newborn
• Echographic findings of the response of the fetus to stimuli and its sleep-wake stages
• Endocrinal findings in fetal blood after stressful or painful events
• Fetal pain assessment tools
• Fetal surgery: new insights
• Drugs for fetal analgesia during surgery