International journal of obstetric anesthesia
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Nov 2015
Randomized Controlled TrialA randomised controlled trial of the effect of an head-elevation pillow on intrathecal local anaesthetic spread in caesarean section.
A head-elevation pillow places a patient in a ramped posture, which maximises the view of the larynx during laryngoscopy, particularly in obese parturients. In our institution an elevation pillow is used pre-emptively for neuraxial anaesthesia. We hypothesised that head-elevation may impair cephalad spread of local anaesthetic before caesarean section resulting in a lower block or longer time to achieve a T6 level. We aimed to investigate the effect of head-elevation on spread of intrathecal local anaesthetics during anaesthesia for caesarean section. ⋯ Use of a ramped position with an head-elevation pillow following injection of the intrathecal component of a combined spinal-epidural anaesthetic for scheduled caesarean section was associated with a significantly lower block height at 10min.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Nov 2015
Case ReportsManagement of labor and delivery in a woman with Morquio syndrome.
Morquio syndrome, a congenital mucopolysaccharidosis, presents several challenges for the provision of effective labor analgesia. We report the case of a woman admitted for induction of labor who received an early epidural and subsequently required cesarean delivery. Optimal bilateral labor analgesia was not achieved despite multiple adjustments, and systemic analgesia was needed for cesarean delivery.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Nov 2015
Case ReportsScleroderma and pulmonary hypertension complicating two pregnancies: use of neuraxial anesthesia, general anesthesia, epoprostenol and a multidisciplinary approach for cesarean delivery.
Literature regarding the anesthetic care of patients with scleroderma during labor and delivery is limited to remote case reports. No recent publications provide information on the anesthetic management of patients with coexisting pulmonary hypertension. This report describes the anesthetic and multidisciplinary management of two pregnant patients with concomitant scleroderma and pulmonary hypertension undergoing cesarean delivery; one with neuraxial anesthesia and one with general anesthesia. Considerations for neuraxial and general anesthesia in patients with concurrent scleroderma and pulmonary hypertension are discussed.