Best practice & research. Clinical anaesthesiology
-
In the developed world, cardiovascular disease has become the most frequent cause of death during pregnancy and postpartum, outnumbering by far obstetric causes of death such as bleeding or thromboembolism. Many factors contribute to this phenomenon, including an increasing age of pregnant women, co-morbidities, and an unhealthy lifestyle. ⋯ Profound knowledge of the cardiac pathophysiology is a prerequisite for the successful anaesthesiologic management of pregnant patients with cardiovascular disease. As there is no difference in general and regional anaesthesia regarding maternal outcomes, neuraxial anaesthesia using incremental techniques should be preferred for labour and (caesarean) delivery if not contraindicated by non-cardiac issues.
-
Worldwide, the most performed surgical intervention is cesarean section. Hence, post-cesarean pain is a common problem with significant health and economic impact on the individual patient and society. ⋯ To facilitate recovery and temper the side effects of potent analgesic drugs such as opioids, multimodal analgesia is currently advocated, and clear international guidelines and recommendations have recently been described. In the present overview, we will discuss the most recent guidelines and evaluate various analgesic interventions.
-
Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol · May 2022
ReviewPost-dural puncture headache diagnosis and management.
Epidural analgesia, commonly used to alleviate labor pain, is not without complication. The most common complication associated with labor epidural analgesia (LEA) is Unintentional Dural Puncture (UDP), where many professionals go on to develop a Post Dural Puncture Headache (PDPH). ⋯ Other complications of dural puncture necessitating further treatment include hospital readmission, persistent headache, persistent backache, cerebral venous thrombosis, subdural hematoma, postpartum depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and decreased maternal breastfeeding. In this article, we will define and discuss the definition and diagnosis for PDPH, the pathophysiology of PDPH, PDPH treatment options including conservative therapy, pharmacologic therapy, and invasive procedural measures including the therapeutic epidural blood patch, prophylactic epidural blood patch, intrathecal catheter placement after UDP, and potential new therapies.
-
Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol · Dec 2021
ReviewPrinciples for minimizing oxygen debt: can they translate to clinical application and improve outcomes?
Oxygen delivery is dependent on pulmonary gas exchange, cardiac output, blood oxygen-carrying capacity, and tissue oxygen extraction. Reduction in oxygen delivery or higher oxygen consumption can initiate complex protective cellular processes precipitating oxygen debt. In critically ill and potentially surgical patients, stress and consequent hormonal or metabolic changes can trigger oxygen debt which is associated with worse morbidity and mortality. ⋯ Furthermore, large heterogeneity in clinical trials assessing outcomes benefit of increasing oxygen delivery limits our ability to recommend goal directed fluid therapy aimed at increasing cardiac ouput or higher FiO2. To understand and prevent oxygen debt in critically ill and surgical patients, we need to develop continuous monitoring techniques to assess the balance of oxygen delivery and consumption. Furthermore, methods of increasing oxygen delivery like goal-directed fluid therapy, higher FiO2 and anemia prevention should be rigorously evaluated with focus on establishing outcomes benefit.
-
Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol · Dec 2021
ReviewApplication of perioperative hemodynamics today and potentials for tomorrow.
Hemodynamic (HD) monitoring remains integral to the assessment and management of perioperative and critical care patients. This review article seeks to provide an update on the different types of flow-guided HD monitoring technologies available, highlight their limitations, and review the therapies associated with the application of these technologies. Additionally, we will also comment on the expanding roles of HD monitoring in the future.