Cahiers d'anesthésiologie
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Anaesthesia for fetal distress is usually indicated for emergency caesarean section. General anaesthesia, which is the classical technique in these cases, remains the leading cause of anaesthesia-related maternal mortality. Difficult intubation and Mendelson's syndrome are mostly responsible for these fatalities. ⋯ For example, a "prophylactic" epidural instituted soon after the beginning of labor may be lifesaving in a patient with obvious signs of difficult intubation. A clear definition of safe standards of equipment and practices both to prevent Mendelson's syndrome or to cope with a failed intubation through a "failed intubation drill" is of paramount importance. Finally, a comprehensive communication between anesthetic and obstetrical teams is one of the most useful ways to allow a safer approach of the management of obstetric emergencies such as caesarean section for fetal distress.
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Cahiers d'anesthésiologie · Jan 1994
Comparative Study[Comparative study of propofol versus thiopental-halothane in the occurrence of oculocardiac reflex and postoperative vomiting after surgery for strabismus in children].
Strabismus surgery in children is associated with side-effects, intraoperative oculocardiac reflexes in relation with muscular tractions and postoperative vomiting. Studies with propofol anaesthesia in this surgery have shown a lower incidence of these side-effects. So, a prospective study compared these incidences with propofol (P) versus thiopental/halothane (T+H) anaesthesia. Propofol appears to be efficient in reducing postoperative vomiting but might be associated with more frequent OCR.
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Cahiers d'anesthésiologie · Jan 1994
Comparative Study[Effect of epidural analgesia on obstetrical mechanics].
Epidural analgesia is the most effective technique of pain relief during labour. However, there is an old suspicion that it modifies the course of labour. ⋯ The deleterious effect on the second stage is primarily due to motor blockade of the pelvic floor muscles which normally exert an important influence on fetal accommodation. It is possible to limit the negative effect of motor blockade by using either a combination of low-dose bupivacaine and opioid, or injection of a lipophilic opioid through a subarachnoid catheter, or by using the new amide local anaesthetic, ropivacaine, which is claimed to possess less motor blocking action.
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Giving a definition of analgesia in ICU needs to answer several questions: Why sedation? Which drugs can we use? How can we deal with sedation? (monitoring, continuous administration, weaning...)? Two different types of sedation must be considered: treatment-sedation (status epilepticus, tetanus, intracranial hypertension...) and comfort-sedation in anxious and/or restless and/or painful patients and in those necessitating mechanical ventilation. Analgesic consumptions vary widely with diseases and their outcome, background diseases and ICU environment. Several studies have shown that pain and analgesia are frequently neglected in ICU. ⋯ A particular place is reserved to regional techniques, often underused in ICU. Indications are then fully discussed, according to several specific pathological conditions. Monitoring and weaning of sedation are also discussed at the end of the review.
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Headache and low back pain are common minor complications after epidural anaesthesia. Headache is due to cerebrospinal leakage through the site of accidental dural puncture. ⋯ Different mechanisms are suggested: needle trauma, myotoxicity of local anaesthetic and postural problem. Large prospective randomized studies are yet necessary to clarify the role of epidural anaesthesia, the duration of symptoms and the therapeutic.