International journal of obstetric anesthesia
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Each calendar year the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology invites an individual to conduct a review of the medical literature, identifying clinically relevant publications of interest to the obstetric anesthesia provider. This report of that effort covers the publications from 2015 and includes the categories of anesthesia and analgesia, complications of neuraxial procedures, and the effects of anesthesia on the fetus. Neuraxial procedures represent the foundation of obstetric anesthesia; advances in anesthesia and analgesia include novel modes of administration, and refinements in care of the medically complex patient. ⋯ Finally, there are potential effects of anesthesia on the fetal/neonatal brain, much of which remains poorly defined. An analysis of recent papers suggests that epidural fever is not an independent cause of adverse neurologic fetal injury. On the other hand, evidence continues to grow to support the hypothesis that anesthetic drugs impact neonatal neurologic outcome.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Nov 2017
Observational StudyIntravenous dexmedetomidine for cesarean delivery and its concentration in colostrum.
Dexmedetomidine is a sedative agent with high α2-adrenoreceptor selectivity. We investigated intravenous dexmedetomidine administration during scheduled cesarean delivery under neuraxial anesthesia; and its concentration in the colostrum. ⋯ The dexmedetomidine milk-to-plasma ratio did not exceed 1 in any participant, and the relative infant dose was very low. Maternal sedation using dexmedetomidine is unlikely to be harmful for the infant.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Nov 2017
Case ReportsIntrathecal hematoma and arachnoiditis mimicking bacterial meningitis after an epidural blood patch.
We present a case of arachnoiditis and an intrathecal hematoma after an epidural blood patch. A 24-year-old parturient underwent an epidural blood patch three days after an accidental dural puncture during epidural labor analgesia. ⋯ Lumbar magnetic resonance imaging was performed and showed an intrathecal hematoma, with no blood in the epidural space. This report briefly reviews the few cases in the literature of arachnoiditis caused by an intrathecal hematoma and discusses the mechanism which resulted in blood in the subarachnoid space.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Nov 2017
A prospective study of post-cesarean delivery hypoxia after spinal anesthesia with intrathecal morphine 150μg.
Delayed respiratory depression is a feared complication of intrathecal morphine in patients undergoing cesarean delivery. The incidence, timing and risk factors for hypoxia in this population are not known. ⋯ Mild hypoxemia occurred frequently in women receiving intrathecal morphine 150μg for post-cesarean analgesia. Desaturations were observed most frequently 4-8hours after administration of intrathecal morphine. Obesity and a positive Berlin Questionnaire were risk factors for hypoxemic events.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Nov 2017
Neuraxial labor analgesia is not an independent predictor of perineal lacerations after vaginal delivery of patients with intrauterine fetal demise.
The role of neuraxial labor analgesia in perineal trauma following live births is controversial, and no studies have assessed the association in women delivering an intrauterine fetal demise. We evaluated the relationship between neuraxial labor analgesia and perineal laceration in these patients. ⋯ Neuraxial labor analgesia does not appear to be an independent risk for a perineal laceration in patients with intrauterine fetal demise. Our data suggests that the use of neuraxial analgesia should not raise concern about increased rates of perineal injury.