Annals of palliative medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial
A randomized trial of the dural puncture epidural technique combined with programmed intermittent epidural boluses for labor analgesia.
Continuous epidural infusion (CEI) can provide analgesia during labor. The dural puncture epidural (DPE) technique is used to accelerate the onset of neuraxia anesthesia. The primary objective of this study was to compare the percentage of patients that received adequate labor analgesia following an injection of 0.08% epidural ropivacaine via the DPE and CEI techniques combined with the PIEB mode of maintenance. ⋯ The percentage of parturients with adequate analgesia at 10 minutes was higher with DPE + PIEB compared to CEI + PIEB. Furthermore, the DPE + PIEB mode was associated with a faster time to a VAS score ≤30 mm.
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Bereavement care is best conceptualized as a preventive model of care. It is an integral component of palliative care where support for the family begins at the time of diagnosis and continues beyond the death of the patient. Even though grief is a normal response to loss, the death of a loved one is believed to be the most powerful stressor in everyday life with the potential to cause great distress in all those closely associated with the deceased. ⋯ Despite this, research into the experience of bereaved caregivers is limited. As such, an opportunity exists to identify ways to help family caregivers not only cope with the death of their loved one but also to help families prepare for the death ahead of time. In this article, we offer guidelines about how best to support family caregivers before and after the death of the patient, drawing on the palliative care and bereavement literature.
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Meta Analysis
The effect of exercise on maternal complications and birth outcomes in overweight or obese pregnant women: a meta-analysis.
Overweight and obesity can increase the risk for certain adverse obstetric outcomes. Exercise may reduce these risks by promoting weight loss or preventing excessive weight gain. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the effect of exercise therapy on pregnancy complications and birth outcomes in overweight or obese pregnant women through a meta-analysis. ⋯ The results of this study suggest that exercise can reduce the risk of GWG and the occurrence rate of GH in overweight or obese pregnant women, however, exercise had no effect on birth outcomes.
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The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has increased the risk of infection among medical staff. Anesthetists may have direct or indirect contact with COVID-19 patients' saliva droplets, blood, and other secretions in their daily work. If infection-prevention measures are not appropriate, it will not only cause individual medical staff infection, but also cross-infection among patients and other medical staff. ⋯ We also discuss the implementation of anesthesia, including anesthesia types, induction of general anesthesia and endotracheal intubation, postoperative recovery and patient transport. Finally, we consider the proper disposal procedure for anesthetic equipment and medical devices. COVID-19 infection can be effectively reduced by infection-prevention measures during the perioperative period.