International journal of obstetric anesthesia
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Apr 2010
Case ReportsThe use of fibrinogen concentrate to correct hypofibrinogenaemia rapidly during obstetric haemorrhage.
Haemorrhage is a common complication of childbirth with 0.65% of deliveries associated with significant (>1500 mL) peripartum blood loss. Hypofibrinogenaemia secondary to dilutional and consumptive coagulopathies can be challenging to correct quickly with conventional blood and plasma therapy. Fibrinogen concentrate offers rapid restoration of fibrinogen levels with a small volume infusion and minimal preparation time. ⋯ Six cases of obstetric haemorrhage, associated with hypofibrinogenaemia, treated with fibrinogen concentrate in conjunction with platelets, fresh frozen plasma, packed red blood cells, uterotonics and obstetric intervention are described. In all cases, laboratory assessed coagulation was rapidly normalised and severe haemorrhage improved. These cases suggest that fibrinogen concentrate may be an effective addition to conventional treatments for obstetric haemorrhage associated with hypofibrinogenaemia.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Apr 2010
Randomized Controlled TrialSide effects of the addition of clonidine 75 microg or sufentanil 5 microg to 0.2% ropivacaine for labour epidural analgesia.
Sufentanil 5 microg and clonidine 75 microg produce a similar reduction in minimum local anaesthetic concentration of ropivacaine. The aim of the present study was to compare the side effects of two equianalgesic solutions by combining 0.2% ropivacaine with either sufentanil 5 microg or clonidine 75 microg for labour epidural analgesia. ⋯ Hypotension occurs more frequently when clonidine is added to epidural ropivacaine instead of an equianalgesic dose of sufentanil. Therefore, clonidine cannot be recommended for routine administration for labour epidural analgesia.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Apr 2010
Randomized Controlled TrialA randomised study of magnesium sulphate as an adjuvant to intrathecal bupivacaine in patients with mild preeclampsia undergoing caesarean section.
Adequate analgesia following caesarean section decreases morbidity, hastens ambulation, improves patient outcome and facilitates care of the newborn. Intrathecal magnesium, an NMDA antagonist, has been shown to prolong analgesia without significant side effects in healthy parturients. We therefore studied the effect of adding intrathecal magnesium sulphate to bupivacaine-fentanyl spinal anaesthesia in patients with mild preeclampsia undergoing caesarean section. ⋯ In parturients with mild preeclampsia undergoing caesarean delivery, the addition of magnesium sulphate 50 mg to the intrathecal combination of bupivacaine and fentanyl prolongs the duration of analgesia and reduces postoperative analgesic requirements without additional side effects.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Apr 2010
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyMaternal haemodynamics at elective caesarean section: a randomised comparison of oxytocin 5-unit bolus and placebo infusion with oxytocin 5-unit bolus and 30-unit infusion.
Rapid intravenous injection of oxytocin is associated with marked hypotension secondary to decreased venous return. Reductions in dose and rate of bolus administration have reduced the incidence of cardiovascular side effects, but no study has yet investigated cardiovascular stability when oxytocin is infused for several hours after delivery. This study compared maternal haemodynamics during a 4-h 30-unit oxytocin infusion and during a placebo infusion following caesarean section. ⋯ An additional oxytocin infusion at elective caesarean section did not adversely affect maternal haemodynamics either during or after surgery.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Apr 2010
Double-space combined spinal-epidural technique for elective caesarean section: a review of 10 years' experience in a UK teaching maternity unit.
In obstetric practice use of a regional technique with a low failure rate minimises the need to convert to general anaesthesia (GA). Previous studies have suggested that combined spinal-epidural anaesthesia (CSE) has a lower GA conversion rate than spinal or epidural anaesthesia alone. In addition, a double-space CSE may be associated with fewer failures than the needle-through-needle technique. However, whether this has an effect on GA conversion rate is unknown. We aimed to review our practice of the double-space CSE technique for elective caesarean section. ⋯ Compared to previously published work using spinal or needle-through-needle CSE anaesthesia we have found a lower GA conversion rate in our unit using the double-space CSE technique for elective caesarean section.