International journal of obstetric anesthesia
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Jul 1995
Serious complications associated with epidural/spinal blockade in obstetrics: a two-year prospective study.
A prospective study of complications associated with epidural and spinal blockade in obstetrics was carried out during the years 1990 and 1991. 79 obstetric units in the United Kingdom took part. These units had a total of 467 491 deliveries during the two years. 108 133 mothers received epidural blockade and 14856 received spinal blockade. 22% of all mothers received epidural analgesia in labour, and 50% of caesarean sections were performed under either epidural or spinal anaesthesia. 128 complications (not including post dural puncture headache) were reported. Of these, 46 were neuropathies involving a single spinal or peripheral nerve. 26 unexpectedly high blockades were encountered. ⋯ Although resuscitation restored normal cardiac function in both cases, one patient was decerebrate and died some days later. Postmortem examination revealed evidence of amniotic fluid embolus. 20 reports were classified as 'miscellaneous' and presented individual clinical diagnoses. The overall complication rate (excluding post dural puncture headache) was approximately 1 per thousand.
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It is essential for an obstetric anesthesiologist to be aware of the fetal status before undertaking care of the laboring mother. In the last 20 years electronic fetal monitoring has been the most widely used technique of evaluating the fetus in labor. ⋯ This review presents a summary of the current technology and interpretation of intrapartum electronic fetal monitoring, as well as a discussion of its limitations and some of the developments in this field which may help improve the accuracy of fetal assessment. The new developments in fetal monitoring discussed in this article are computerized assessment of fetal heart tracings, heart rate variability analysis, fetal electrocardiogram waveform analysis, abdominal detection of fetal ECG, fetal scalp oxygen saturation, fetal pH sampling and transcutaneous oxygen and carbon dioxide measurement.
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A 35-week pregnant patient with ankylosing spondylitis and a known previous failed intubation required an elective caesarean section for intrauterine growth retardation. Regional anaesthesia was prevented by extensive spinal fusion. The anaesthetic management involved an awake oral fibreoptic intubation followed by induction and maintenance of general anaesthesia allowing delivery of a live infant without harm to the mother.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Jul 1995
Fiberoptic intubation using intraoral glossopharyngeal nerve block in a patient with severe preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome.
Rationale and technique for use of intraoral glossopharyngeal nerve block is described in a parturient with severe preeclampsia and a past history of difficult intubation. Indications and contraindications for administration of other forms of airway anesthesia are discussed.