International journal of obstetric anesthesia
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Feb 2019
ReviewManagement of postpartum haemorrhage: from research into practice, a narrative review of the literature and the Cardiff experience.
Collins et al share their insights from 10 years of Cardiff research and pragmatic clinical experience managing postpartum hemorrhage.
Why is this important?
PPH incidence is increasing globally and is still the number one cause of maternal death. Many routine PPH transfusion practices are dogmatic and based upon non-pregnant trauma data. Applicability to PPH is at best questionable.
Of interest they note:
- The utility of fibrinogen measurement as an early indicator of coagulopathy and severe PPH, especially <2 g/L.
- The value of point-of-care testing, such as with ROTEM®.
- The typical maintenance of normal PT & APTT until 4-5 L of blood loss, unlike fibrinogen which was abnormal after ~2 L loss.
- The rarity of needing to replace factors other than fibrinogen even in severe PPH. FFP can usually be safely withheld in moderate-to-severe PPH when POCT is available.
- The value of fibrinogen concentrate over cryoprecipitate, although without value in pre-emptive formulaic treatment.
- The value and practicality of measuring blood loss versus estimation.
The take-away: Plasma fibrinogen is generally a more important target than PT or APTT in most PPH cases. (Placental abruption is an important exception.)
Interesting physiological tidbit... because normal term fibrinogen is 4 g/L and FFP fibrinogen is 2 g/L, undirected FFP transfusion in PPH could theoretically contribute to dilutional hypofibrinogenemia.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Feb 2019
Observational StudyUterotonic drug usage in Canada: a snapshot of the practice in obstetric units of university-affiliated hospitals.
The objective of this study was to determine the pattern of uterotonic drug usage in obstetric units of university-affiliated hospitals in Canada. ⋯ There is a lack of a unified approach to the use of uterotonic drugs for postpartum hemorrhage management in Canada. To improve the management of postpartum hemorrhage due to uterine atony, an evidence-based approach to usage and consensus between obstetricians and anesthesiologists is warranted.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Feb 2019
Review Comparative StudyIs training in obstetric critical care adequate? An international comparison.
Obstetric critical care is an emerging discipline which cuts across speciality boundaries. We have analysed the training curricula in the three major specialities (obstetrics, anaesthesia and intensive care medicine) likely to be involved in the care of the critically-ill obstetric patient, to assess whether it is adequate to ensure effective training on this subject.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Feb 2019
Randomized Controlled TrialProphylactic infusion of phenylephrine is effective in attenuating the decrease in regional cerebral blood volume and oxygenation during spinal anesthesia for cesarean section.
Hypotension induced by spinal anesthesia for cesarean section causes a decrease in maternal regional cerebral blood volume and oxygenation. We used near-infrared spectroscopy to determine whether prophylactic infusion of phenylephrine attenuates these decreases. ⋯ Prophylactic infusion of phenylephrine, especially at 25 µg/min, can effectively suppress decreases in regional cerebral blood volume and regional cerebral blood oxygenation after induction of spinal anesthesia for cesarean section.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Feb 2019
Case ReportsAnaesthetic implications of a patient with cold-induced anaphylaxis presenting to the labour ward.
Cold contact urticaria is a well described condition, with reactions ranging from localised wheals to systemic and anaphylactic reactions. Case reports involving anaesthetic care are rare. ⋯ She subsequently had an uneventful instrumental delivery following an epidural 'top-up'. This report focuses on the anaesthetic implications of her condition.