International journal of obstetric anesthesia
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Feb 2017
Randomized Controlled TrialOptimal hand washing technique to minimize bacterial contamination before neuraxial anesthesia: a randomized control trial.
Infectious complications related to neuraxial anesthesia may result in adverse outcomes. There are no best practice guidelines regarding hand-sanitizing measures specifically for these procedures. The objective of this study was to compare the growth of microbial organisms on the operator's forearm between five common techniques of hand washing for labor epidurals. ⋯ Alcohol-based antiseptic solutions are superior in terms of reducing the incidence of colonization. The results will enable us to develop guidelines to standardize and improve hand-sanitizing practices among epidural practitioners.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Feb 2017
Observational StudyPersistent pain after caesarean section and its association with maternal anxiety and socioeconomic background.
Pain, both from the surgical site, and from other sources such as musculoskeletal backache, can persist after caesarean section. In this study of a predominantly socially deprived population we have sought to prospectively examine the association between antenatal maternal anxiety and socioeconomic background and the development of persistent pain of all sources after caesarean section. ⋯ Persistent pain from a variety of sources after caesarean section is common. Our findings do not support the use of antenatal anxiety scoring to predict persistent pain in this setting, but suggest that persistent pain is influenced by acute pain, postnatal depression and socioeconomic deprivation.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Feb 2017
Case ReportsOut-of-hospital cardiac arrest in pregnancy with good neurological outcome for mother and infant.
Cardiac arrest in pregnancy is rare (about 1:30000 pregnancies) and out-of-hospital cardiac arrests are even less frequent. Resuscitation of the pregnant mother is challenging and requires attention to the altered physiology, specific pathologies and the presence and well-being of the fetus. ⋯ We present a case of out-of-hospital maternal cardiac arrest with successful resuscitation and good neurological outcome for mother and infant. The principal emphases are on decision making, resuscitation and education.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Feb 2017
Case ReportsUse of hyperbaric oxygen therapy and PEGylated carboxyhemoglobin bovine in a Jehovah's Witness with life-threatening anemia following postpartum hemorrhage.
We present a case of a Jehovah's Witness patient who refused blood products, with the exception of albumin and clotting factors, and underwent cesarean section under spinal anesthesia complicated by postpartum hemorrhage. She was fluid resuscitated and treated with multiple uterotonics and internal iliac artery embolization. Because of agitation she required emergency tracheal intubation. ⋯ On postoperative day eight her hemoglobin concentration was 7mg/dL, she was hemodynamically stable and vasopressors were discontinued. She was extubated and discharged from the intensive care unit on postoperative day eight. This report highlights the multiple modalities used in treating a severely anemic patient who refused blood, the use of an investigational new drug, the process of obtaining this drug via the United States Food and Drug Administration emergency expanded access regulation for single patient clinical treatment, and ethical dilemmas faced during treatment.