The Effects of Subarachnoid Fentanyl in Combined Spinal-Epidural Anesthesia for Cesarean Section / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Combined spinal-epidural anesthesia (CSEA) for cesarean section has gained an increasing interest as it combines a reliability of spinal anesthesia and the flexibility of epidural anesthesia. The aim of this study is to compare the surgical analgesia and the frequency of side effects for cesarean section produced by CSEA using subarachnoid fentanyl or placbo. METHODS: The study was performed in a randomized, double-blined fashion in 40 (20 per group) healthy, full-term parturients presenting for elective cesarean section. We compared the effects of intrathecal fentanyl (20 microgram), and placebo when administered together with 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine 7 mg in combined spinal-epidural anesthesia (CSEA) for cesarean section. Patients' anesthetic levels, vital signs and intraoperative pain were recorded. If anesthetic level achieved by intrathecal injection was not sufficient for cesarean section (T4), additional 2% lidocaine 2 ml per segment was administered epidurally. Patients were asked to rate their severity of pain on a visual analog scale (VAS) score intraoperatively and intravenous fentanyl was administered if the patient experienced intraoperative discomfort. The quality and side effects of anesthsia and neonatal Apgar scores were compared between two groups. RESULTS: The number (percent) of patients achieved sensory block level above T4 by subarachnoid injection alone was significantly higher in the fentanyl group (17/18, 94.4%) than the control grop (10/16, 62.5%). The dose of epidural lidocaine was significantly less in the fentanyl group (p<0.05). The frequency of intraoperative pain was significantly less in the fentanyl group (17%) than in the control group (50%). CONCLUSION: We conclude that adding fentanyl into subarachnoid injection in CSEA for cesarean section significantly decreases the additional epidural local anesthetics and intraoperative pain.

A Study on the Distance from Epidural Space to Subarachnoid Space in Combined Spinal-Epidural Anesthesia for Cesarean Section / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Combined spinal-epidural anesthesia (CSEA) has gained an increasing interest as it combines the reliability of a spinal block and the flexibility of an epidural block. This study was designed to determine the distance from skin to epidural space (S-EP) and the distance from epidural space to subarachnoid space (E-SA) in obstetric parturient and whether weight, height, BMI (body mass index) and PI (ponderal index) might influence S-EP and E-SA. METHODS: Sixty obstetric patients undergoing elective cesarean section during CSEA in L3-4 level were partitioned into group I (with dural click), group II (no dural click) and in each group, weight (prepregnancy, pregnancy), height, BMI and PI were measured. Measurements of S-EP and E-SA were made. The Pearson correlation was used to investigate relationships between S-EP, E-SA and patient characteristics (height, weight, BMI, PI). RESULTS: S-EP was 4.39+/-0.49 cm and E-SA was 8.23+/-2.05 mm (7.99+/-2.07 mm in group I, 8.78+/-1.94 mm in group II). S-EP was related to weight, BMI and PI except height. E-SA was related to pregnancy BMI and pregnancy PI in group I. No correlation was found between E-SA and other variables in group II. CONCLUSIONS: E-SA in obstetric parturients was related to obesity and has been found to be somewhat larger and more variable due to the segmented and discontinous nature of epidural space.

Aspiration Pneumonitis Occurring during General Anesthesia in a Parturient with Strangulation Ileus: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents is the main cause of anesthesia-related maternal deaths. We experienced a case of pulmonary aspiration during induction of general anesthesia for an emergency cesarean section. The parturient was admitted for severe abdominal pain and abnormal fetal movement. She had no remarkable past medical history except for an appendectomy, 3 years earlier. The massive pulmonary aspiration of acid-liquid, malodorous feculent, gastric contents occurred accidently. Immediate endotracheal intubation and suction were followed. The strangulation ileus of the small bowel resulting from the pressure of the enlarged uterus on intestinal adhesions was detected after cesarean delivery and severe pulmonary edema developed during the perioperative period. Intensive care including mechanical ventilation with positive end-expiratory pressure, frequent suction, antibiotic therapy and other measures was attempted. At the 50th day after the operation the patient was discharged fortunately without any meaningful pulmonary sequelae. In conclusion, we should be aware of the possibility of mechanical ileus and pulmonary aspiration in parturients with past abdominal operation histories during anesthesia for cesarean section.