International journal of obstetric anesthesia
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Oct 1999
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialComparison of intermittent epidural bolus, continuous epidural infusion and patient controlled-epidural analgesia during labor.
The aim of the study was to compare efficacy and side-effects produced by three techniques of epidural analgesia during labor: intermittent bolus (1B), continuous epidural infusion (CEI) and patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA). One hundred and fifty parturients allocated randomly to three groups received the same epidural solution of bupivacaine 0.125% with sufentanil 0.5 microg/mL. In the first group (IB: n=50) boluses were administered by the anesthesiologist and titrated to achieve adequate analgesia. ⋯ The other side-effects were equally distributed in the three groups. We concluded that PCEA with bupivacaine and sufentanil is a valuable technique and a good alternative to the IB method. Compared to the CEI technique, PCEA allows a decrease in local anesthetic consumption without impairing the quality of anesthesia.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Oct 1999
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialOxford positioning technique improves haemodynamic stability and predictability of block height of spinal anaesthesia for elective caesarean section.
A novel positioning technique was tested to see whether the unpredictability of block height and haemodynamic instability during spinal anaesthesia for caesarean section could be reduced. In this 'Oxford' position, the woman is placed left lateral with an inflated bag under the shoulder and pillows supporting the head. Following spinal injection the woman is turned to an identical right lateral position. ⋯ Block height was more variable in group S than in group O (f test, P = 0.001). Blood pressure decreased by a greater amount initially: group S women required more ephedrine (15.5 +/- 12.9 versus 9.2 +/- 7.7 mg, t test, P = 0.03). Block height with spinal anaesthesia for caesarean section is more predictable and haemodynamically stable if the Oxford position is used whilst anaesthesia develops.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Oct 1999
Anaphylaxis during caesarean section in a patient with undiagnosed placenta accreta: it never rains but it pours!
Published guidelines exist for the management and investigation of suspected anaphylactic reactions associated with anaesthesia. We report a woman who had a life-threatening anaphylactic reaction during caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia, complicated by undiagnosed placenta accreta. We discuss the particular problems of the case and the practical difficulties of testing survivors of anaphylaxis: despite following the recommendations, we have been unable to identify the cause.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Oct 1999
Benign intracranial hypertension and anaesthesia for caesarean section.
Benign intracranial hypertension (idiopathic hypertension, pseudomotor cerebrii) describes the syndrome of elevated intracranial pressure without clinical, laboratory or radiological evidence of a focal lesion. Unlike conditions where intracranial pressure is raised due to a space-occupying lesion, dural puncture is not contraindicated. In this report we describe the delivery by caesarean section of a parturient with this rare condition using the needle through needle combined spinal-epidural technique.