A&A practice
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Recognition and treatment of maternal hypotension during epidural anesthesia administration for intrapartum cesarean delivery preserves maternal-fetal perfusion. A case that required quality assurance review uncovered lapses in maternal hemodynamic monitoring during the transition to intrapartum cesarean delivery anesthesia. ⋯ The time-lapse between epidural dosing and subsequent blood pressure was evaluated before and after the introduction of our educational tool. The time-lapse between blood pressure measures decreased to <10 minutes (10.78-13.92 vs 8.8-9.76 minutes).
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A parturient with unknown thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) received spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery with subsequent discovery of a platelet count of 7000 × 10/L. Neurologic recovery was normal. ⋯ There is reporting bias in the literature toward cases in which severely thrombocytopenic patients sustain complications after regional anesthesia. It is important to report all cases of neuraxial anesthesia in severely thrombocytopenic patients, including those such as ours, wherein patients recover normally.
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Case Reports
Fatal Clostridium perfringens Meningitis Following Caudal Anesthesia in an Infant: A Case Report.
Caudal anesthesia is referred to as a simple and safe method to obtain analgesia in infants during various surgical procedures. Here, we present a fatal course of a premature infant that received caudal anesthesia for inguinal hernia repair. ⋯ The infant died 17 days after surgery. Preoperative screening for C. perfringens and particular caution in infants with intracerebral hemorrhages are discussed as potential factors to be considered when anesthesia is planned.
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A 35-year-old parturient with antiphospholipid syndrome and a working diagnosis of hemolysis, elevated liver enzyme, and low platelets (HELLP) underwent a cesarean delivery 9 hours after receiving heparin. Her preoperative activated partial thromboplastin time and rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) intrinsic pathway (INTEM) clotting time were 120 and 1870 seconds, respectively. Fresh frozen plasma was administered for heparin neutralization. The ROTEM INTEM/heparinase assay (HEPTEM) ratio can help confirm heparin neutralization and guide intraoperative transfusion management.
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Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (vaECMO) is a well-established treatment option for severe cardiogenic shock of various etiologies. Although trials have explored weaning strategies, a brief and conclusive overview is lacking. We present the different aspects of weaning and provide an evidence- and experienced-based guide for clinicians managing patients under vaECMO in the preweaning, weaning, and postweaning phases.