International journal of obstetric anesthesia
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Int J Obstet Anesth · May 2019
Observational StudyBaseline parameters for rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM®) in healthy women undergoing elective caesarean delivery: a prospective observational study in Australia.
Formal reference ranges for rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM®) in pregnancy have not been obtained in the recommended minimum sample size of 120. This prospective observational study aimed to establish baseline parameters in an Australian population of women undergoing elective caesarean delivery. The secondary aim was to compare these reference ranges with those from prior studies and the manufacturer. ⋯ ROTEM® reference ranges for women with uncomplicated term pregnancies were reported as per the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry. The FIBTEM MCF and FIBTEM/EXTEM/INTEM amplitudes were higher in comparison to the manufacturer's reference ranges for the non-obstetric population. The EXTEM CT was shorter than the non-obstetric reference ranges. These ranges show an increase in coagulability during normal pregnancy compared to the non-pregnant reference ranges.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · May 2019
Case ReportsAnaesthetic management for caesarean section of a parturient with a known difficult airway and closed spinal dysraphism.
Many anaesthetists consider patients with existing neurological deficits, untreated spinal pathology or those having undergone major spinal intervention to be precluded from undergoing neuraxial anaesthesia. While this is partly rooted in fears of litigation there is also a lack of consensus of the best practice in the anaesthetic management of these patients. ⋯ She successfully underwent delivery under neuraxial blockade for the delivery of her fourth child. We believe that by undergoing a thorough multidisciplinary clinical evaluation, including the extensive use of neuroimaging and ultrasound, it may be possible to plan and perform safe neuraxial anaesthesia.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · May 2019
Randomized Controlled TrialEffect of companion presence on maternal satisfaction during neuraxial catheter placement for labor analgesia: a randomized clinical trial.
Companion presence during labour epidural placement reduces maternal anxiety and improves maternal satisfaction.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · May 2019
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyComparison of the potency of phenylephrine and norepinephrine bolus doses used to treat post-spinal hypotension during elective caesarean section.
Phenylephrine, although considered the vasopressor of choice, can cause reflex bradycardia and a fall in cardiac output. Norepinephrine, due to its direct positive chronotropic and reflex negative chronotropic actions, is expected to overcome this problem. However, limited information about its effective dose for management of post-spinal hypotension, and its potency compared to phenylephrine, is available. ⋯ Based on the results of this study, norepinephrine is about 11 times more potent than phenylephrine. When used as bolus doses for treatment of hypotension, 100 μg phenylephrine should be approximately equivalent to 9 μg norepinephrine.