International journal of obstetric anesthesia
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Int J Obstet Anesth · May 2019
Case ReportsRotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM®)-guided diagnosis and management of amniotic fluid embolism.
Point-of-care haemostasis testing may be helpful in rapidly diagnosing amniotic fluid embolism.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · May 2019
Case ReportsMultimodal general anesthesia approach for Ex Utero Intrapartum Therapy (EXIT) procedures: two case reports.
High-dose volatile anesthesia is the most common method of achieving uterine relaxation for Ex Utero Intrapartum Therapy (EXIT) procedures. Other methods employ nitroglycerin for additional uterine relaxation with or without remifentanil for additional fetal analgesia. We report a combination approach including one minimum alveolar concentration of volatile anesthetic plus nitroglycerin and remifentanil infusions, to provide timely uterine relaxation under general anesthesia for both mother and fetus, during two EXIT procedures.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · May 2019
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyComparison of the potency of phenylephrine and norepinephrine bolus doses used to treat post-spinal hypotension during elective caesarean section.
Phenylephrine, although considered the vasopressor of choice, can cause reflex bradycardia and a fall in cardiac output. Norepinephrine, due to its direct positive chronotropic and reflex negative chronotropic actions, is expected to overcome this problem. However, limited information about its effective dose for management of post-spinal hypotension, and its potency compared to phenylephrine, is available. ⋯ Based on the results of this study, norepinephrine is about 11 times more potent than phenylephrine. When used as bolus doses for treatment of hypotension, 100 μg phenylephrine should be approximately equivalent to 9 μg norepinephrine.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · May 2019
ReviewTreatment of obstetric post-dural puncture headache. Part 1: conservative and pharmacological management.
The 2009-12 MBRRACE-UK report highlighted the deaths of two women in whom dural puncture had occurred during insertion of a labour epidural catheter. One woman received an epidural blood patch, the other did not, but both suffered with chronic headaches following discharge from hospital. Neither woman was adequately followed-up. ⋯ Surveys of clinical practice in the UK have revealed significant variation in anaesthetic practice in the management of obstetric post-dural puncture headache. To help provide guidance on treatment, the Obstetric Anaesthetists' Association set up a working group to review the literature and produce evidence-based guidelines for management of obstetric post-dural puncture headache. These guidelines have been condensed into two review articles, the first of which covers conservative and pharmacological treatment.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · May 2019
Observational StudyIncidence of respiratory depression after epidural administration of morphine for cesarean delivery: findings using a continuous respiratory rate monitoring system.
Epidural morphine is widely used for postoperative analgesia after cesarean delivery. However, respiratory depression can occur after neuraxial administration of morphine. Previous reports describing respiratory depression in obstetric patients have relied on intermittent visual counting of the respiratory rate. In this study, we estimated the incidence of respiratory depression in patients who had received epidural morphine after cesarean delivery, using a continuous respiratory rate monitoring system with a finger sensor. ⋯ Approximately half the women experienced mild respiratory depression, but only one developed moderate respiratory depression. Continuous respiratory rate monitoring until ambulation may assist in early identification of respiratory depression after neuraxial administration of morphine.