Current opinion in anaesthesiology
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Jun 2019
ReviewEpidural test dose in obstetric patients: should we still use it?
As the application of a test dose after epidural catheter insertion in obstetrics has recurrently been associated with serious adverse events affecting both maternal and foetal outcomes, the question whether to test or not remains a controversial issue. ⋯ Physiological alterations during pregnancy and labour restrict the use and also the validity of traditional test agents. Epinephrine is not appropriate to detect a vascular insertion in labour and the application of a local anaesthetic test dose may lead to dose-dependent fatal consequences should the catheter be intrathecal, due to an increased sensitivity in parturients. Given the current practice of opioid-amended-low-concentration epidurals, the waiving of a test dose results at worst in a failed epidural, a stark contrast to the potentially severe to fatal complications of a 'traditional' test dose. Hence, an originally preventive measure providing potentially more harm than the consequences of the situation aimed to prevent, should not be recommended. A simple fractionated administration of the initial analgesic dose seems reasonable though.
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Jun 2019
ReviewPerioperative fluid management in children: can we sum it all up now?
The composition and type of intravenous fluids during paediatric anaesthesia have been subjects of debates for decades. Errors in perioperative fluid management in children may lead to serious complications and a negative outcome. Therefore, in this review, historical and recent developments and recommendations for perioperative fluid management in children are presented, based on physiology and focused on safety and efficacy. ⋯ Physiologically composed balanced isotonic electrolyte solutions are beneficial for maintaining homeostasis, shifting the status more towards the normal range in patients with preexisting imbalances and have a wide margin of safety in case of accidental hyperinfusion.
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Prediction of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) enables individually applied preventive measures and maybe even early treatment if a PPC eventually starts to develop. The purpose of this review is to describe crucial steps in the development and validation of prediction models, examine these steps in the current literature and describe what the future holds for PPC prediction. ⋯ Many predictive models for PPCs have been reported on. Development of more robust PPC prediction models could be supported by machine learning.
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This review summarizes the current evidence available to guide anaesthetists along the decision-making process between inhalational and intravenous anaesthesia when caring for paediatric patients. ⋯ For children scheduled for elective surgery, intravenous induction has significant advantages with regards to reduced respiratory adverse events and for less postoperative behavioural disturbances, it may be associated with more anxiety at the time of induction. The anaesthetist in charge of the patient needs to weigh up the balance between the clinical risk of respiratory adverse events, the 'veins on offer', the level of anxiety and previous experiences of the child and his/her parents.
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Jun 2019
ReviewCentral neurological complications following obstetric neuraxial blockade.
Central neuraxial blockade is increasingly the anaesthetic management of choice for parturients, including in higher risk pregnancies. Although they are usually effective and safe, there are potentially devastating neurological complications that may present either overtly or insidiously. A thorough understanding of the variety of potential neurological complications is essential to adequately consent patients in addition to diagnosing and managing complications following neuraxial anaesthesia. This review aims to describe a number of potential neurological injuries that may occur and suggested management based on available evidence. ⋯ Difficulty remains in establishing absolute risk of complications and optimal management strategies given the low overall number of patients affected and heterogeneity of therapy. There may be a role for centralized registration of postneuraxial complications in obstetric patients to further develop our collective understanding of these conditions.