Background With the constant breakthroughs in fetal surgery, fetal anesthesia has also made rapid development. Objective This paper sums the development and the current situation of anesthesia for fetal surgery for promoting its wider spread and known by people. Content This paper introduces the anesthetic effects on the fetus and the mother, current fetal surgery and main anesthetic methods，comparisons of various anesthetic methods and management during anesthesia. Trend Although fetal anesthesia has made great progresses, there is no satisfactory answer for many related questions such as the effect of anesthetic agents on fetal development. Optimal anesthetic regimens for fetal surgery remains to be determined.