International journal of obstetric anesthesia
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Apr 2010
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyMaternal haemodynamics at elective caesarean section: a randomised comparison of oxytocin 5-unit bolus and placebo infusion with oxytocin 5-unit bolus and 30-unit infusion.
Rapid intravenous injection of oxytocin is associated with marked hypotension secondary to decreased venous return. Reductions in dose and rate of bolus administration have reduced the incidence of cardiovascular side effects, but no study has yet investigated cardiovascular stability when oxytocin is infused for several hours after delivery. This study compared maternal haemodynamics during a 4-h 30-unit oxytocin infusion and during a placebo infusion following caesarean section. ⋯ An additional oxytocin infusion at elective caesarean section did not adversely affect maternal haemodynamics either during or after surgery.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Apr 2010
Comparative StudyConversion of regional to general anaesthesia at caesarean section: increasing the use of regional anaesthesia through continuous prospective audit.
Anaesthetic-related maternal deaths have largely been attributed to complications of general anaesthesia. In our unit a retrospective audit conducted between 1997 and 2002 showed a 9.4% conversion rate to general anaesthesia for caesarean sections amongst women with epidural catheters in-situ. The Royal College of Anaesthetists has stated that <3% of cases should need conversion to general anaesthesia. To improve our figures, from 2004 to 2007 we prospectively audited all caesarean sections requiring general anaesthesia. ⋯ Prospective audit has been associated with improved rates for neuraxial anaesthesia and reduced need for conversion to general anaesthesia in all but category-1 caesarean sections. The Royal College of Anaesthetists standards may need to be reviewed to become category-specific.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Apr 2010
Double-space combined spinal-epidural technique for elective caesarean section: a review of 10 years' experience in a UK teaching maternity unit.
In obstetric practice use of a regional technique with a low failure rate minimises the need to convert to general anaesthesia (GA). Previous studies have suggested that combined spinal-epidural anaesthesia (CSE) has a lower GA conversion rate than spinal or epidural anaesthesia alone. In addition, a double-space CSE may be associated with fewer failures than the needle-through-needle technique. However, whether this has an effect on GA conversion rate is unknown. We aimed to review our practice of the double-space CSE technique for elective caesarean section. ⋯ Compared to previously published work using spinal or needle-through-needle CSE anaesthesia we have found a lower GA conversion rate in our unit using the double-space CSE technique for elective caesarean section.