International journal of obstetric anesthesia
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Feb 2020
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudySurgical conditions with rocuronium versus suxamethonium in cesarean section: a randomized trial.
Onset times and conditions for intubation after rocuronium versus suxamethonium at cesarean section have been evaluated, but no study thus far has examined the influence of these neuromuscular blocking drugs on the surgical conditions or their effect on the duration of surgery and the ease of fetal delivery. We aimed to compare the surgical conditions for delivery in parturients who received deep neuromuscular block with rocuronium with those who had induction with suxamethonium. ⋯ Whereas the induction-to-delivery intervals were comparable, we found rocuronium superior to suxamethonium in allowing better surgical conditions for fetal delivery, which enabled an easier delivery and a shorter incision-to-delivery interval.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Feb 2020
An educational intervention about the classification of penicillin allergies: effect on the appropriate choice of antibiotic therapy in pregnant women.
Most pregnant women who self-report penicillin allergy are not truly penicillin-allergic and this misunderstanding often leads to administration of inappropriate antibiotic therapy. Decision algorithms have been developed to guide antibiotic selection but major discrepancies have been reported between guidelines and clinical practice. We aimed to optimize the prescription of antibiotics for pregnant women who self-reported penicillin allergy, using an educational intervention about the classification of penicillin allergies that targeted gynecologists, anesthesiologists and midwives. ⋯ An educational intervention about penicillin allergy classification was associated with an improvement in the choice of appropriate antibiotic therapy among women who had reported penicillin allergy.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Feb 2020
Efficacy of the Epidural Positioning Device® in optimizing the acoustic target window for neuraxial needle placement in term pregnancy.
Neuraxial anesthesia can be challenging in obstetric patients due to the gravid uterus interfering with patient positioning. Ultrasound is commonly used in obstetric anesthesia to facilitate neuraxial needle placement. Some positioning maneuvers facilitate the ultrasound visualization of structures and the placement of neuraxial needles, but the Epidural Positioning Device (EPD) has yet to be evaluated. ⋯ Although the application of an EPD did not improve the paramedian acoustic target area in term parturients, greater patient comfort might facilitate needle placement.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Feb 2020
Comparative StudyBaseline parameters for rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM®) in healthy pregnant Australian women: a comparison of labouring and non-labouring women at term.
Rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM®) is a point-of-care coagulation test. Reference ranges in non-labouring women have recently been established from a cohort of women presenting for elective caesarean delivery using the recommended minimum sample size of 120. This study aimed to present baseline parameters for labouring and non-labouring women and to compare the mean values of these ROTEM® parameters. ⋯ We demonstrated a significant decrease in the mean time-to-clotting onset in labouring women compared with non-labouring women. Mean values for measures of clot firmness were greater in labouring women. In comparison to previously established ROTEM® baseline parameters for non-labouring women, this study provides evidence that there is greater hyper-coagulability in labouring women.