General anesthesia with remifentanil for Cesarean section in a parturient with an acoustic neuroma

PURPOSE: To describe the anesthetic management of a parturient with a large acoustic neuroma undergoing general anesthesia with remifentanil for Cesarean section. CLINICAL FEATURES: A near-term parturient presented with a large intracranial mass. Cesarean section under general anesthesia was elected one week prior to craniotomy for tumour resection. Remifentanil infusion, 0.2-1.0 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1), was used from induction to emergence of general anesthesia. The neonate was born seven minutes after the remifentanil infusion was started. She had normal umbilical cord pH and her Apgar scores were 7 and 8, at one and five minutes respectively. Although the neonate received supplemental oxygen, she did not require naloxone. Both mother and neonate made an uneventful recovery. CONCLUSION: Remifentanil was effective in producing stable hemodynamic conditions, without severe neonatal respiratory depression, during induction and maintenance of general anesthesia for a Cesarean delivery in a parturient with a large intracranial tumour.     

The use of remifentanil in general anaesthesia for Caesarean section in a patient with mitral valve disease

We report the use of remifentanil as part of a general anaesthetic technique for a patient with mixed mitral valve disease, asthma and pre-eclampsia presenting for an emergency Caesarean section. The use of remifentanil was associated with stable haemodynamic variables during general anaesthesia. No clinically significant respiratory depression was noted in the neonate.     

Epidural anesthesia for Cesarean section in a patient with von Hippel-Lindau syndrome

Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease is an autosomal dominant disorder with variable penetrance. It is mainly characterized by haemangioblastomas of the retina and central nervous system. Because of physiological effects of uterine contractions, labour and spontaneous vaginal delivery increase the risk of disrupting central nervous system haemangiblastomas. We report the case of a 28-year-old woman with an history of VHL disease who had an epidural anaesthesia for labour and for Caesarean section performed because of failure to progress and of fetal distress. The overall maternal and neonatal outcomes were excellent.     

General anesthesia using remifentanil for Cesarean delivery in a parturient with Marfan’s syndrome

PURPOSE: Due to cardiovascular and skeletal abnormalities, anesthetic management of parturients with Marfan's syndrome can be particularly challenging. Parturients with aortic root dilatation are at risk for aortic dissection. We describe the anesthetic management of a parturient with Marfan's syndrome and aortic root dilatation, who required general anesthesia for Cesarean delivery. CLINICAL FEATURES: At 26 weeks gestation, a nulliparous woman with Marfan's syndrome presented to the Anesthesia Clinic. Her history revealed asymptomatic aortic root dilatation of 41 mm, and partial correction of scoliosis with Harrington rods. Her cardiologist advised metoprolol, serial echocardiograms, and Cesarean delivery to decrease the risk of aortic dissection. At a multidisciplinary conference, a decision was made to proceed with Cesarean delivery, at term, at the cardiac surgery centre. After placement of arterial and central lines, general anesthesia was induced with remifentanil, propofol, and succinylcholine. Anesthesia was maintained with N(2)O, sevoflurane, and remifentanil (0.02-0.08 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1)). Transesophageal echocardiography examination confirmed stable aortic root dilatation. The patient remained hemodynamically stable. The baby's Apgars were 4 and 8, at one and five minutes, respectively. At the end of the procedure, the patient's trachea was extubated when she was awake. Initial postoperative care was in the intensive care unit. Both mother and baby recovered uneventfully. CONCLUSIONS: Peripartum hemodynamic changes can be life-threatening to the parturient with Marfan's syndrome and aortic dilatation. Anesthetic goals for delivery included preparation for possible aortic dissection, and avoidance of increased aortic root shear stress, through careful hemodynamic monitoring, and general anesthesia using remifentanil.     

Epidural anesthesia for cesarean section in a patient with severe pulmonary hypertension

The case of a parturient previously operated on for transposition of the great arteries is reported. On account of Eisenmenger's syndrome with high pulmonary vascular pressures, she was admitted to hospital with hemoptysis in the 27th week of gestation. At the end of the 34th week the child was delivered by elective cesarean section under epidural block. Bupivacaine 0.75% was administered as local anesthetic, and small incremental doses of local anesthetic proved capable of maintaining hemodynamic stability for the duration of the operative procedure.     

Cesarean section in a patient with Wolfe-Parkinson-White syndrome

A 30 year old woman with abnormal fetal presentation was scheduled for emergency cesarean section. The patient had been a known case of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, and appeared exceedingly anxious. She was given diazepam 5 mg and sufentanil 15 microgram as premedication following which routine and conventional general anesthesia was administered. The perioperative course was uneventful, and both the patient and the child were discharged fully well on the 5th postoperative day.     

雷米芬太尼在小儿麻醉中的临床应用近况

雷米芬太尼（remifentanil）是目前最新的短效斗一阿片样受体激动剂，其药代动力学参数小儿与成人相似。可用在小儿静吸复合麻醉及全凭静脉麻醉的诱导及维持中，包括心脏及非心脏手术，控制性降压、门诊手术麻醉。但不适合小儿清醒镇静中使用。雷米芬太尼的镇痛和呼吸抑制作用呈剂量依赖型，且镇痛作用有最大效应限制。临床应用须结合小儿的生理特点，个体化用药。     

Spinal anesthesia for Cesarean section in a parturient with long QT syndrome

PURPOSE: To report the first use of spinal anesthesia for Cesarean section (CS) in a parturient with a long QT syndrome (LQTS) and an automatic implantable cardiac defibrillator (AICD). Although both general and epidural anesthesia have been described for CS in patients with LQTS, there are no previous case reports on the use of spinal anesthesia. The clinical features, diagnosis, treatment and anesthetic management of LQTS are discussed. CLINICAL FEATURES: A 31-yr-old woman, gravida 2 para 1 known to have LQTS and an AICD, presented in labour at 35 weeks gestation, three weeks before her scheduled CS. Her previous delivery by CS under spinal anesthesia at our institution was uneventful. On this occasion, we elected to administer spinal anesthesia because she was asymptomatic (no arrhythmia or cardiac arrest) for the last few years, was hemodynamically stable, and had received uneventful spinal anesthesia before. CONCLUSION: Spinal anesthesia was used safely for CS in this parturient with LQTS.     

Spinal anesthesia for lower segment Cesarean section in patients with stable eclampsia

Study Objective

To report the use of spinal anesthesia in stable eclamptic patients.

Design

Prospective case series.

Setting

Emergency operating room of a metropolitan hospital.

Patients

12 “stable” eclamptic parturients.

Interventions

Subarachnoid block was instituted with hyperbaric 0.5% bupivacaine 1.7 mL with fentanyl 25 μg.

Measurements

Intraoperative maternal hypotension, episodes of convulsion, the need to convert to general anesthesia, and Apgar scores at 1 and 5 minutes were recorded.

Main Results

Only one of the 12 parturients had an episode of hypotension (treated by intravenous ephedrine), while no patient had a convulsion over the 48 hours after delivery. The sensory level achieved was T₅-T₆ and none of the cases was converted to general anesthesia. Median Apgar scores at 1 and 5 minutes were 8 and 9, respectively.

Conclusion

Spinal anesthesia avoided the known risks of general anesthesia and was not associated with any major complications.     

Combined spinal-epidural anesthesia for Cesarean section in a patient with peripartum dilated cardiomyopathy

PURPOSE: To report a case of peripartum dilated cardiomyopathy associated with morbid obesity and possible difficult airway presenting for elective Cesarean section, which was successfully managed with combined spinal-epidural anesthesia. CLINICAL FEATURES: A morbidly obese parturient with a potentially difficult airway, suffering from idiopathic peripartum cardiomyopathy (ejection fraction 20%), was scheduled for an elective Cesarean section. A combined spinal epidural anesthesia was performed and 6 mg of bupivacaine were injected into the subarachnoid space. This was supplemented after 60 min with 25 mg of bupivacaine injected epidurally. The patient's hemodynamic status was monitored with direct intra-arterial blood pressure and central venous pressure measurements. The patient's perioperative course was uneventful. CONCLUSION: In patients suffering from peripartum cardiomyopathy, undergoing Cesarean section, combined spinal-epidural anesthesia may be an acceptable anesthetic alternative.     

Caesarean section in a patient with a history of HELLP syndrome]

A 36-year-old woman underwent emergency caesarean section following the diagnosis of HELLP syndrome. Four years earlier, after having undergone the same procedure for HELLP syndrome, she had experienced hypovolemic shock, renal failure, and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy during the postoperative period. This time, the patient showed bleeding, elevation of liver enzymes (ALT, AST, LDH) and a reduction of antithrombin III activity in the 36th week of pregnancy. Anesthesia was induced by thiamylal 4 mg.kg-1 and suxamethonium 1 mg.kg-1 and after delivery maintained by oxygen-nitrous oxide-isoflurane, and all procedures were performed without any incident. No major complications such as intraperitoneal bleeding, renal failure, or disseminated intravascular coagulopathy occurred during the postoperative period. It is suggested that caesarean section should be carried out as soon as possible after the diagnosis of HELLP syndrome is confirmed.     

General anesthesia for cesarean section in a patient with Marfan's syndrome associated with dissecting aortic aneurysm

A 23-year-old woman with Marfan's syndrome was scheduled for Cesarean section at 31 week gestation because of progressive aortic dissection. Since she had undergone two surgical corrections for scoliosis (Harrington rod instrumentation) 5 and 12 years ago, we selected general anesthesia. She had been taking diltiazem and propranolol for hypertension and tachycardia. Anesthesia was induced with thiopental 75 mg iv followed by O2-N2O-enflurane (4%) by face mask. Following iv administration of vecuronium 4 mg and tracheal injection of 4% lidocaine 120 mg, the trachea was intubated without a significant hemodynamic change. Anesthesia was maintained with O2-N2O-enflurane (0.5-1.5%) before delivery. Following delivery, enflurane was discontinued and small doses of fentanyl iv (total 0.2 mg) were given with iv infusion of nitroglycerin (0.2-0.5 micrograms.kg-1.min-1) during surgery. Bleeding after delivery was controllable by iv infusion of oxytocin. The Apgar score was good (9 at 1 min and 10 at 5 min respectively). Post-operative course was uneventful. Therapeutic abortion or Cesarean section should be performed as soon as possible in a patient with dissecting aortic aneurysm because of increasing risk of aneurysm rupture during pregnancy. During the surgery, minimal hemodynamic changes are required to prevent the rupture.     

紧急剖宫产术后发生急性结肠假性梗阻的危险因素分析

目的 探讨紧急剖宫产术后发生急性结肠假性梗阻(ACPO)的危险因素.方法 将河南省人民医院2018-07—2020-07行紧急剖宫产术后诊断ACPO的33例产妇为ACPO组,按照与ACPO组5:1比例选择同期行剖宫产术后未发生ACPO的165例产妇为对照组.比较2组产妇术前及术后化验指标、术中情况,以及危险因素.采用t...     

Spinal subarachnoid hematoma following spinal anesthesia in a patient with HELLP syndrome

A case of subarachnoid hematoma following spinal anesthesia for cesarean section in a patient with HELLP syndrome is reported. A 39-year-old woman underwent cesarean section under spinal anesthesia for worsening preeclampsia with HELLP syndrome. Despite full recovery from the spinal anesthetic, on the second postoperative day she felt numbness on the posterior aspect of her right leg, noticed she was insensitive to bladder fullness and had mild flaccid paraparesis. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a spinal subarachnoid hematoma with cauda equina compression. With conservative management she made an almost complete recovery within three months. Serial magnetic resonance imaging showed spontaneous regression of the hematoma. The risk of spinal subarachnoid hematoma following obstetric regional anesthesia is exceedingly small even in a patient with coagulopathy and, to our knowledge, this is only the second reported case following obstetric regional anesthesia. Anesthesia for HELLP syndrome in patients with an adequate platelet count but without disseminated intravascular coagulation is controversial. It is therefore important for clinicians to recognize the symptoms and signs of spinal subarachnoid hematoma to avoid delay in treatment that might result in severe neurological deficit.     

Anesthesia for a patient with HELLP syndrome

A case of 30 year-old female with HELLP syndrome, who had undergone emergency caesarean section under general anesthesia, was reported. HELLP syndrome is characterized by hemolysis, liver dysfunction and thrombocytopenia, besides symptoms of severe toxemia of pregnancy. After an awake orotracheal intubation, anesthesia was maintained with nitrous oxide, oxygen and muscle relaxant. Blood pressure was controlled with intravenous administration of nitroglycerin. Though the eclampsia was recognized several times during and after the operation, the patient and her baby had no complication nor sequela on their discharge. The key in the anesthetic management of caesarean section in a patient with HELLP syndrome is to control hypertension and eclampsia, to consider the presence of liver and kidney dysfunctions, and to improve anemia and bleeding tendency.     

Comparison of combined spinal epidural anesthesia and epidural anesthesia for cesarean section

BACKGROUND: Epidural anesthesia (EA) is popular for cesarean section, but has some drawbacks such as incomplete block, inadequate muscle relaxation and delayed onset. Combined spinal epidural anesthesia (CSEA) has gained increasing interest as it combines the reliability of a spinal block and the flexibility of an epidural block. We investigated the efficacy of CSEA that combines the main spinal and the supporting epidural anesthesia, comparing with pH-adjusted EA, for cesarean section. METHODS: Sixty-four pregnant women at full term were divided into two groups. Patients in the CSEA group (n=32) were given 1.5-1.6 ml of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine intrathecally, followed by 10 ml of 0.25% plain bupivacaine through the epidural catheter 10 min later. Patients in the EA group (n=32) received 20-25 ml of 2% lidocaine which was already mixed with 0.1 ml of 0.1% epinephrine, 100 g of fentanyl and 1.5 ml of 8.4% sodium bicarbonate. The quality and side effects of surgical anesthesia, neonatal state, and postoperative course were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: In the EA group, 22% (7 cases) complained of intraoperative pain but none in the CSEA group (P=0.011). Muscle relaxation and motor block were much better in the CSEA group (P<0.001 and P=0.011 each). Significantly more women in the EA group had shivering (P=0.001). They also had more nausea and vomiting but the differences were not significant. Not only the time to T4 block (9.7 vs. 18.3 min, mean, P<0.001) but also the stay in the postanesthesia care unit, recovery of sensory and motor block and start of postoperative pain were all significantly shorter in the CSEA group. No one in either group had postdural puncture headache (PDPH). CONCLUSION: We can conclude that, when combining the main spinal and the supporting epidural anesthesia, CSEA has greater efficacy and fewer side effects than the pH-adjusted EA in cesarean sections.