International journal of obstetric anesthesia
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Oct 2002
Sevoflurane induction for emergency caesarean section: two case reports in women with needle phobia.
Needle phobia is an unusual but well-recognised clinical entity. It is claimed that it may affect up to 10% of the general population and may prevent potential patients from seeking medical care, thereby reducing its apparent incidence in the hospital population. Its occurrence in a parturient requiring urgent caesarean section presents special challenges to the anaesthetist. This report discusses the clinical, ethical and medico-legal dilemmas presented by two such cases that were successfully managed by inhalational induction of general anaesthesia using sevoflurane.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Oct 2002
The in-vitro effects of sevoflurane and desflurane on the contractility of pregnant human uterine muscle.
The effect of desflurane and sevoflurane on the contractility of the uterus was examined in vitro on strips of human myometrium obtained at the time of elective cesarean section. Small strips (1 mm x 2 mm x 10 mm) of muscle were prepared and suspended in an organ bath containing oxygenated physiological saline. Force of contraction was recorded continuously using an isometric tension transducer. ⋯ The degree of depression of uterine muscle contractility produced by both these agents was significantly different from control at all concentrations. In conclusion, both sevoflurane and desflurane depress the contractility of isolated pregnant human myometrium at concentrations of 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 MAC. These agents produce a similar degree of depression of uterine muscle contractility.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Oct 2002
Hospital policy for prevention of infection after neuraxial blocks in obstetrics.
Even though most regional anesthesia textbooks and articles about infectious complications associated with central neuraxial blocks underline the necessity of surgical asepsis, none offers a clear and precise procedure. This protocol is intended to reduce variability of practices, and is felt to be stringent enough to be effective and liberal enough to be fully implemented. Any person involved with the procedure must wear a cap and a new face mask. ⋯ Manipulation of the hub of the catheter must be preceded both by antiseptic hand washing and by swabbing with sterilized gauze soaked with 70% alcohol. Catheter removal requires only antiseptic hand washing in most circumstances. Wearing mask and gloves and improving skin disinfection practices are believed to be the more important parts of this protocol.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Oct 2002
Patient-controlled epidural analgesia in a parturient with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.
We describe the use of patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) using fentanyl in the management of a labouring parturient with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). With non-invasive monitoring, PCEA was started in the early first stage of labour with a bolus dose of fentanyl 20 microg, lockout 5 min and 4-h maximum dose of 500 microg. ⋯ Opioid-based PCEA is an alternative to systemic analgesia in labouring parturients with HOCM. However, although its use avoids the potential adverse effects of sympathetic block associated with conventional epidural analgesia, our regimen had limited analgesic efficacy in the latter stage of labour.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Jul 2002
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialHaemodynamic changes caused by oxytocin during caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia.
The haemodynamic effects of oxytocin receive scant attention in pharmacology texts, but may be clinically significant in vulnerable patients. Despite prescriber information recommending a dose of 5 international units by slow i.v. injection, it is the authors' experience that it is very common practice in the UK to give 10 units as a rapid injection. We therefore conducted a randomised, double-blind study of the haemodynamic changes induced by rapid bolus of 5 or 10 units of oxytocin in 34 healthy term parturients at caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia. ⋯ This has been illustrated by a maternal death reported to the Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths in the United Kingdom. The need to adhere to a dose regimen of 5 units by slow injection needs re-emphasis, but no evidence exists to claim that even this will be haemodynamically inert. We therefore recommend that oxytocin boluses be avoided in women with hypovolaemia or cardiac disease.