Anaesthesia
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Fetal effects of combined spinal-epidural vs epidural labour analgesia: a prospective, randomised double-blind study.
Fetal heart rate abnormalities occur commonly (17%) after establishing epidural or CSE labour analgesia, although without observed neonatal effects.
pearl -
In thalassaemic patients, multiple organ systems may be affected by the disease, blood transfusion, iron overload and chelating therapy. Patients may develop cardiomyopathy, pulmonary hypertension or heart failure requiring pre-operative echocardiography or cardiac catheterisation. Restrictive lung dysfunction is commonly encountered, especially in patients with splenomegaly. ⋯ Cardiovascular depression due to negative inotropic and vasodilating effects of general anaesthesia should be minimised. Neuraxial techniques may also be challenging due to spinal skeletal abnormalities and extramedullary haemopoiesis. A multidisciplinary pre-operative approach, clinical optimisation and a carefully planned strategy are mandatory.