Coagulation screening before epidural analgesia in pre-eclampsia

A questionnaire survey of current practice at a small cross-section of obstetric units, covering 22% of all United Kingdom deliveries, revealed a marked lack of standard practice regarding requests for coagulation screens on pre-eclamptic patients who require epidural procedures. A retrospective audit was therefore carried out on 434 coagulation screens requested for pre-eclamptic patients in whom epidural analgesia might have been considered. Borderline abnormalities of coagulation were found in only 10 patients (2%). Platelet counts of less than 150 x 10(9)/litre were present in 28% of cases. 'Significant' thrombocytopenia (less than 100 x 10(9)/litre) and all coagulation abnormalities were only encountered in severe pre-eclampsia (diastolic blood pressure of greater than 110 mmHg and proteinuria of + + or greater). Furthermore, coagulation abnormality was always associated with a reduced platelet count (mean, 97 x 10(9)/litre). This study would therefore support anaesthetic practice which restricted any requests for coagulation testing to severe pre-eclamptic patients only. For these patients first line testing could be limited to a platelet count.     

Early results of immediate repair of obstetric third-degree tears: 65% are completely asymptomatic despite persistent sphincter defects in 61%

OBJECTIVE: The outcome of immediate repair of obstetric third-degree tears is poorly documented. Immediate repair may give better functional results than delayed repair because scarring is reduced. This aim of this prospective study was to examine the early outcome of immediate repair of third-degree tears. METHOD: A total of 121 women who had immediate repair of obstetric third-degree tears underwent interview, anal ultrasonography and anorectal physiology. RESULTS: At review, 79 (65%) were completely asymptomatic (score = 0), 23 (19%), had minor flatus incontinence or mild urgency causing no compromise to their quality of life (score 1-4), and 19 (16%) had clinically embarrassing faecal incontinence (score 5-24). Thirty-nine (32%) had an intact internal anal sphincter (IAS) and external anal sphincter (EAS) (i.e. a successful repair), eight (7%) had a defect in the IAS alone but the EAS was intact (i.e. a successful repair but a residual IAS defect), 43 (35%) had a residual defect in the EAS alone (IAS intact) and 31 (26%) had a persistent defect in the IAS and EAS. Residual defects in either or both of the sphincters were associated with a significantly higher incidence of abnormal resting and squeeze anal pressures. Anal manometry had no correlation with symptoms. The highest proportion of severe incontinence was in those with an IAS defect alone (37%) and when there was a residual IAS and EAS defect (24%). Only 2 of 39 (5%) with an intact IAS and EAS had severe incontinence and only 8 of 43 (18%) with a residual EAS defect alone had severe faecal incontinence. CONCLUSION: These results indicate a good outcome following immediate repair of third-degree obstetric tears and emphasize the role of the IAS in providing continence.     

Acute respiratory distress during Caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia A probable case of anaphylactoid reaction to Syntocinon

A case of life-threatening respiratory distress during a Caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia is reported. Possible causes of the event including anaphylactoid reactions and the methods of their diagnosis are discussed. The most likely cause of the episode was felt to be an anaphylactoid reaction to Syntocinon.     

Can the process indicators for emergency obstetric care assess the progress of maternal mortality reduction programs? An examination of UNFPA Projects 2000-2004.

BACKGROUND: In view of the disappointing progress made in the last 20 years in reducing maternal mortality in low-income countries and before going to scale in implementing the new evidence-based strategies, it is crucial to review and assess the progress made in pilot countries where maternal mortality reduction programs focused on emergency obstetric care. OBJECTIVE: To review the process indicators recommended for monitoring emergency obstetric care and their application in field situations, examining the conditions under which they can be used to assess the progress of maternal mortality reduction programs. METHODS: Five of the six UN recommended process indicators were monitored annually for 5 years in selected districts of Morocco, Mozambique, India and Nicaragua. Trends are presented and discussed. RESULTS: With specific variations due to different local situations in the four countries and in spite of variations in quality of data collection, all indicators showed a consistent positive trend, in response to the inputs of the programs. CONCLUSIONS: The UN process indicators for emergency obstetric care should continue to be promoted, but with two important conditions: (1) data collection is carefully checked for quality and coverage; (2) efforts are made to match process and outcome indicators (maternal and perinatal mortality, incidence of complications).     

Epidural block for obstetrics: Comparison of bolus injection of local anesthetic with gravity flow technique

Study Objective: To test the hypothesis that slow administration of local anesthetic into the epidural space by gravity flow reduces the incidence of signs and symptoms of unintended injection.

Design: Prospective, randomized study.

Setting: Teaching hospital.

Patients: 600 ASA physical status I and II parturients scheduled for labor and delivery or elective cesarean section.

Interventions: After identification of the epidural space with pulsations of an air-fluid column, parturients for vaginal delivery (n = 380) were randomized to receive a test dose of 3 ml 3% 2-chloroprocaine with epinephrine 20 μg, two doses of 7 ml bupivacaine 0.03 % with sufentanil 1 μg/ml and epinephrine 2 μg/ml by either gravity flow (Group 1) given over 30 seconds or by bolus injection (Group 2) given over 5 seconds through the epidural needle; parturients for Cesarean delivery (n = 220) were randomized to receive a test dose and two doses of 6 ml lidocaine 2 % with sufentanil 1 μg/ml and epinephrine 2 μg/ml by either gravity flow or by bolus injection through the epidural needle. Changes in maternal heart rate (HR) and blood pressure, signs of intravascular injection, and adverse effects of epidural bupivacaine-sufentanil were recorded after each dose.

Measurements and Main Results: Gravity flow administration (Group 1) was associated with a smaller increase in mean maternal HR (p < 0.001), less hypotension (p < 0.01), sedation (p < 0.01), nausea (p = 0.01), and segmental spread (p < 0.0001) than were corresponding doses given by traditional bolus injection (Group 1) for vaginal or Cesarean deliveries. The incidence of systemic toxicity was zero of 300 (0%) with gravity flow and 4 of 300 (1.3%) by bolus injection, p = 0.12, Fisher's exact test. No patient in either group had an accidental intrathecal injection.

Conclusion: Gravity flow administration of local anesthetic-opioid solution during epidural block for obstetrics was associated with fewer signs of systemic drug absorption and cardiovascular perturbations than was the traditional bolus injection. This study supports the current opinion that slow administration of local anesthetic during epidural black contributes to fewer adverse events.     

Successful triplet pregnancy in a patient with a unicornuate uterus with a cavitary communicating rudimentary horn

In a patient with primary infertility, ovulation was inducedby monitored stimulation with human menopausal gonadotrophins(HMG) because of polycystic ovarian disease. Infertility work-uphad shown a unicornuate uterus with a cavitary communicatingrudimentary horn. The husband showed a varicocele-related moderateoligoasthenoterato-zoospermia. A triplet pregnancy occurredin a third HMG ovulation induction cycle combined with intra-uterineinsemination of the husband's washed semen. The pregnancy wascarefully monitored, and measures to prevent premature deliverywere taken. Because of the patient's obvious discomfort in thepresence of premature labour, Caesarean section was performedat 33 weeks gestation and three healthy infants were delivered.This is the first report of a successful triplet pregnancy ina women with a unicornuate uterus. The reproductive and obstetricoutcome of this condition in general, and in the case of multiplepregnancy, is discussed.     

Epidural pethidine and bupivacaine in labour

A double-blind randomised study was performed to assess the value of the addition of pethidine 50 mg to the initial dose of bupivacaine given for epidural analgesia in labour. Forty-nine patients received either 1 ml of saline (n = 24), or 50 mg of pethidine (n = 25), added to 9 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine as an initial injection for intrapartum epidural analgesia. There was a significant increase in the mean duration of analgesia in the pethidine group. However, pethidine did not increase the speed of onset of analgesia, or improve the quality of analgesia.     

Thyroid storm as a cause of loss of consciousness following anaesthesia for emergency Caesarean section

A previously undiagnosed thyrotoxic patient was anaesthetised for an emergency Caesarean section. The recovery period was complicated by an acute thyroid crisis resulting in loss of consciousness following an apparently normal recovery from general anaesthesia.