International journal of obstetric anesthesia
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Feb 2020
Review Meta AnalysisAdverse side effects and route of administration of opioids in combined spinal-epidural analgesia for labour: a meta-analysis of randomised trials.
Studies report an increased risk of maternal and fetal adverse side effects when combined spinal-epidural, rather than standard epidural, analgesia is provided for labour and delivery. Intrathecal opioids used with local anaesthetic in combined spinal-epidural analgesia may be a cause. It is not known whether this is due to the addition of opioid to local anaesthetic in the intrathecal space only or due to concomitant administration into the intrathecal and epidural spaces. ⋯ For combined spinal-epidural techniques, the administration of opioids in combination with local anaesthetic, particularly when used in both the intrathecal and epidural space, should be carefully considered.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Feb 2020
Impact of intra-operative dexamethasone after scheduled cesarean delivery: a retrospective study.
Dexamethasone is an effective analgesic and anti-emetic in patients undergoing many surgical procedures but its effects on pain after cesarean delivery are poorly studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate if routine intra-operative administration of dexamethasone improved analgesia and decreased postoperative nausea and vomiting after scheduled cesarean delivery. ⋯ This impact study involving more than 360 patients suggests that routine administration of intra-operative intravenous dexamethasone 4 mg does not provide additional analgesic benefit after scheduled cesarean delivery, in the context of a multimodal postoperative analgesic regimen. Studies are required to determine if a larger dose or repeated administration influence postoperative analgesia or side effects, or whether certain subsets of patients may benefit.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Feb 2020
Efficiency of leukocyte depletion filters and micro-aggregate filters following intra-operative cell salvage during cesarean delivery.
Intra-operative cell salvage is not routinely used during cesarean delivery because it is not cost-effective for patients at low risk of hemorrhage and there are theoretical concerns about amniotic fluid embolism. Some guidelines recommend using leukocyte depletion filters to decrease the risk of amniotic fluid embolism before re-infusing salvaged blood, but these filters are not available in Japan. We compared the efficacy and safety of leukocyte depletion and micro-aggregate filters in combination with intra-operative cell salvage during cesarean delivery. ⋯ Leucocyte depletion filters are more effective in removing white blood cells and squamous cells than micro-aggregate filters, and their introduction for intra-operative cell salvage during cesarean delivery should be considered in Japanese clinical practice.