Best practice & research. Clinical anaesthesiology
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The use of epidural analgesia for labor continues to increase dramatically. It has been suggested that epidural analgesia increases the risk of cesarean section, operative vaginal delivery, and prolonged labor. ⋯ It may affect the incidence of forceps delivery, but it depends on the medications used. Epidural analgesia does prolong labor, although the clinical significance of this prolongation has not been shown.
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Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol · Mar 2005
ReviewNon-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antiplatelet medications and spinal axis anesthesia.
Many individuals use cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors (COX-1 and COX-2 non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and antiplatelet medications on a regular basis. This is particularly true of the elderly, who are more prone to having osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and cardiac disease. Some of these agents alter platelet function and may increase the risk of spinal/epidural hematoma formation if spinal axis anesthesia is utilized without following proper precautions. ⋯ Anesthesiol. Reanim. 48 (2001) 270]. This article explains the mechanism of action of each of the medications which alter platelet function, defines the risks of hematoma formation should the medication be inadvertently continued into the perioperative period, and provides guidelines and recommendations on how to manage each class of drug prior to the placement of spinal/epidural blocks.
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Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol · Mar 2005
ReviewDoes perioperative pulse oximetry improve outcome? Seeking the best available evidence to answer the clinical question.
The aim of this chapter is to clarify the effect of perioperative monitoring with pulse oximetry and to identify the adverse outcomes that might be prevented or improved by its use. Trials were identified by computerized searches of The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE and EMBASE, and by checking the reference lists of trials and review articles. All controlled trials that randomized patients to either pulse oximetry or no pulse oximetry during the perioperative period, including the operating and recovery room, were included in the search. ⋯ The implementation of perioperative pulse oximetry monitoring does not significantly reduce the number of postoperative complications, but the question remains whether pulse oximetry can improve outcomes in other situations. Pulse oximetry has been adopted all over the world in clinical practice as a tool that guides anaesthesiologists in the daily management of patients: in teaching situations, in emergencies, and especially in the care of children. Given the relatively small number of patients studied in these trials and the rare events being sought, the studies of perioperative monitoring with pulse oximetry were not able to show an improvement in the outcomes studied.
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During the last 20 years, studies using continuous perioperative electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring in patients at high risk for postoperative cardiac complications have revolutionized our understanding of the pathophysiology, circumstances, timing and possible prevention of perioperative ischemia and postoperative cardiac morbidity and mortality. The present review attempts to provide a comprehensive and practical summary of the current knowledge on perioperative myocardial ischemia. It starts with a description of the conventional definition of myocardial ischemia on exercise stress-testing and continues with a summary of the findings and insights collected from ambulatory Holter monitoring in non-surgical patients with coronary artery disease. It then recaps the variety of studies using perioperative ischemia monitoring to detail the concepts and controversies brought about by this type of monitoring, and tries to portray a general picture of the association of perioperative ischemia and postoperative cardiac complications-including myocardial infarction-and emphasize the importance of postoperative, not just intraoperative, ischemia monitoring.
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Despite considerable investment of resources, there remains wide variation in organization of Intensive Care Units (ICUs). One key domain is the physician staffing. ⋯ The improved sense of continuity and close attendance to patients may also bolster improved patient and family satisfaction. Intensivist-led or intensivist-staffed ICUs may also realize decreased resource use because these physicians may be better at reducing inappropriate admissions, preventing complications that prolong length of stay, and recognizing opportunities for prompt discharge.