International journal of obstetric anesthesia
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Parturients with renal insufficiency or failure present a significant challenge for the anesthesiologist. Impaired renal function compromises fertility and increases both maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Close communication amongst medical specialists, including nephrologists, obstetricians, neonatologists and anesthesiologists is required to ensure the safety of mother and child. ⋯ Kidney function may deteriorate during pregnancy, necessitating early intervention. The goal is to maintain hemodynamic and physiologic stability while the demands of the pregnancy change. Drugs that may adversely affect the fetus, are nephrotoxic or are dependent on renal elimination should be avoided.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Jul 2013
Letter Case ReportsEpidural analgesia in a parturient with lumbar tinea versicolor.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Jul 2013
Observational StudyTranscutaneous carbon dioxide levels and oxygen saturation following caesarean section performed under spinal anaesthesia with intrathecal opioids.
Intrathecal opioids can be associated with respiratory depression which may have serious consequences. We describe the use of a non-invasive monitor (TOSCA) to measure transcutaneous carbon dioxide levels and percentage of haemoglobin oxygen saturation in post-caesarean section patients in two hospitals which used different intrathecal opioids. ⋯ The incidence of opioid-induced respiratory depression detected by TOSCA is higher than previously reported by other monitoring methods. TOSCA may have a role in detecting subclinical respiratory depression in the obstetric population. Further studies with a control population are needed.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Jul 2013
Case ReportsCaesarean section in a parturient with Carpenter syndrome and corrected Tetralogy of Fallot.
Carpenter syndrome is an extremely rare congenital disorder characterized by craniofacial malformations, syndactyly, cardiac defects and obesity. Even after surgical correction of cardiac abnormalities, intrapartum care of a parturient with this condition can be challenging because of progression of residual cardiac defects compounded by the haemodynamic changes of pregnancy. We describe the anaesthetic management for caesarean section of a parturient with Carpenter syndrome and corrected Tetralogy of Fallot. Additional complicating issues included worsening cardiac function, asthma, needle-phobia and osteoarthritis.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Jul 2013
Case ReportsSpinal anaesthesia for caesarean section in the presence of respiratory failure and spinal metastases from a soft tissue clear cell sarcoma.
Spinal metastases occur in up to 70% of all patients with cancer. However, only 10% are symptomatic. Before considering central neuraxial blockade in patients with malignancy, a history of back pain should be excluded. ⋯ Failure to achieve adequate sensory anaesthesia after central neuraxial blockade or presentation with postoperative paraplegia may indicate the presence of asymptomatic vertebral canal metastases. In this report, the anaesthetic management of a patient with respiratory failure and spinal metastases from a soft tissue sarcoma, requiring caesarean section is described. Sensory anaesthesia extending above a level of imminent cord compression was achieved despite loss of cerebrospinal fluid signal on magnetic resonance imaging.