Anaesthesia and intensive care
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Epidural opioids have been used in obstetrics since 1980. Various opioids are reviewed in relation to their pharmacology, their efficacy in labour, during caesarean section and for postoperative analgesia, their side-effects and safety. In this patient population it appears safe to administer epidural opioids on the general ward provided that strict monitoring standards are maintained. Practical considerations of nursing management are discussed.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Aug 1990
Review Case ReportsPulmonary hypertension and pregnancy--a lethal combination.
Pulmonary hypertension may be either primary of unknown aetiology or secondary to existing cardio-respiratory disease. As a single entity the prognosis is poor but superimposition of the physiological changes of pregnancy and labour produces a lethal condition. This paper sets out two clinical cases of primary pulmonary hypertension as background for discussion to highlight the issues involved. Whatever this discussion does, let it be clearly spelled out that prevention is better than any proposed cure.