International journal of obstetric anesthesia
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The cardiovascular changes during epidural caesarean delivery were studied, using a non-invasive cardiac output monitor (BoMed NCCOM3-R7). Two different regimens were used to control hypotension (A = 15 ml/kg of 3% dextran 70, B = 7.5 ml/kg of 3% dextran 70 followed by an infusion of 17.5 mg of ephedrine). ⋯ The increase in cardiac output after delivery was greater than that measured previously, which might be because impedance cardiac output is a continuous method. It is also suggested that the most pronounced changes are augmented by the use of a bolus injection of 10 units oxytocin i.v.
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In parturients, extension of epidural analgesia to include the sacral roots is necessary for adequate analgesia during the second stage of labour and for vacuum extraction and forceps delivery. There is clinical evidence that if the sitting position is adopted after local anaesthetic administration, it impairs the sacral spread of analgesia. An in vitro model representing the lumbar spinal canal has been used to demonstrate how, in the vertical position, a CSF plug can prevent downward spread of local anaesthetic. ⋯ Sacral sensory blockade was greater in the head up group. The difference was significant on the left side (P < 0.05) at 15, 20, and 30 minutes after the main dose. There were more patients with blocks extending to S5 (on either the left or right sides) in the head up group at 15, 20 and 30 minutes (P < 0.05 at 20 and 30 minutes on left side).
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Jan 1994
A survey of coagulation screening practices in preeclampsia and low-dose aspirin prophylaxis.
In a postal survey of 47 hospitals, consultant anaesthetists were asked their policies for investigating coagulation in parturients with preeclampsia and for those taking aspirin prophylaxis. There was some agreement over policies for mild to moderate preeclampsia. The study also showed that significant numbers of the smaller units encountered aspirin treatment but that there was little consensus on how to respond to it.