International journal of obstetric anesthesia
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Nov 2018
Theoretical optimal cricothyroidotomy incision length in female subjects, following identification of the cricothyroid membrane by digital palpation.
Misidentification of the cricothyroid membrane is frequent in females, placing them at risk of difficult or failed cricothyroidotomy in the event of failed oxygenation. If anatomy is impalpable, the current guidelines of the Difficult Airway Society, based on expert opinion, recommend an 8-10 cm vertical incision to facilitate access to the cricothyroid membrane. At present no evidence-based guideline exists regarding optimum site or length. We investigated the likelihood of inclusion of the cricothyroid membrane, within hypothetical vertical midline incisions, in a female population. ⋯ Based on clinical estimation of the location of the cricothyroid membrane, an incision length of 8 cm, using the clinician's best estimate as its midpoint, would overlie all cricothyroid membrane locations. Our data support the current Difficult Airway Society guidelines for cricothyroidotomy incision length.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Nov 2018
Multicenter StudyRetrospective study to investigate fresh frozen plasma and packed cell ratios when administered for women with postpartum hemorrhage, before and after introduction of a massive transfusion protocol.
Administration of packed red blood cells (PRBC) and fresh frozen plasma (FFP) to women with postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) before and after introduction of a massive transfusion protocol. ⋯ Among women with PPH receiving ≥3 PRBC units within a short period of time, it appears that factors other than the existence of our massive transfusion protocol influence the number and ratio of PRBC and FFP units transfused. Blood products were not transfused according to exact ratios, even when guided by a protocol.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Nov 2018
Myocardial tissue characterisation and detection of myocardial oedema by cardiovascular magnetic resonance in women with pre-eclampsia: a pilot study.
Pre-eclampsia is characterised by increased left ventricular wall thickness on transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). This is assumed to be myocardial hypertrophy, however TTE cannot determine myocardial structure which may be muscle, oedema or fibrosis. Given the high incidence of peripheral oedema in pre-eclampsia, we hypothesised that increased thickness could represent oedema. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) characterises myocardial tissue, differentiating between hypertrophy, oedema and fibrosis. This pilot study was designed to characterise myocardial composition using CMR in pregnant women (healthy or with pre-eclampsia) and to compare cardiac output and left ventricular mass using TTE and CMR. ⋯ Cardiovascular magnetic resonance was used to characterise the myocardial tissue in women with pre-eclampsia. Data suggest that some women with pre-eclampsia have myocardial oedema rather than hypertrophy.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Nov 2018
Insertion of an intrathecal catheter following a recognised accidental dural puncture reduces the need for an epidural blood patch in parturients: an Australian retrospective study.
There is no clear consensus about how best to prevent post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) following an accidental dural puncture in parturients. Our primary objective was to investigate whether the insertion of an intrathecal catheter following accidental dural puncture reduces the incidence of PDPH and therapeutic epidural blood patch. ⋯ Inserting an intrathecal catheter after a recognised accidental dural puncture significantly reduced the need for an epidural blood patch.