Current opinion in anaesthesiology
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Jun 2015
ReviewUpdate on perioperative care of the cardiac patient for noncardiac surgery.
The current review will address key topics and recommendations of the recent 2014 update of the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association clinical practice guideline for the perioperative cardiovascular evaluation and management of patients undergoing noncardiac surgery. ⋯ In conclusion, this review will discuss the important topics from the 2014 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guideline in order to provide the perioperative physician with the most recent evidence necessary to minimize major adverse cardiac events in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery.
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Jun 2015
ReviewMaternal critical care: 'one small step for woman, one giant leap for womankind'.
The purpose of this study is to outline the challenges of looking after women who either become or are at a risk of becoming critically ill during pregnancy. ⋯ In this review, we identify the need for maternal critical care, explore different models of its provision and outline possible benefits and barriers to its future implementation.
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Recent literature on the role of transthoracic echocardiography in the management of women with preeclampsia is reviewed with emphasis on recommendations for its use in the life-threatening complications of acute pulmonary edema, chest pain, and hemorrhage. ⋯ The role of transthoracic echocardiography in the management of women with preeclampsia is emphasized by international groups. Research into the hemodynamics in preeclampsia, which demonstrates preserved ejection fraction, and diastolic dysfunction highlights its utility and acceptability by pregnant women with preeclampsia. Training of obstetric anesthesiologists in echocardiography is necessary to enable more widespread implementation of this important technology.
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Jun 2015
ReviewTransfusion and coagulation management in major obstetric hemorrhage.
Major obstetric hemorrhage is a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. We will review transfusion strategies and the value of monitoring the maternal coagulation profile during severe obstetric hemorrhage. ⋯ A massive transfusion protocol provides a key resource in the management of severe PPH. However, future studies are needed to assess whether formula-driven vs. goal-directed transfusion therapy improves maternal outcomes in women with severe PPH.
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For most anaesthesiologists, the clinical experience with general anaesthesia for caesarean section is very low. General anaesthesia is mostly performed for emergency grade 1 caesarean section and due to a lack of time to apply a neuraxial anaesthesia technique. Unfortunately, the majority of anaesthesiologists rely on historical and partly outdated approaches in this stressful situation. We propose an evidence-based approach to general anaesthesia for caesarean section. ⋯ We present a review of recent evidence on general anaesthesia for caesarean section.