ABSTRACT
The aim of this study is to establish the feasibility of awake laparotomy under neuraxial anesthesia (NA) in a suburban hospital. A retrospective analysis of the results of a consecutive series of 70 patients undergoing awake abdominal surgery under NA at the Department of Surgery of our Hospital from February 11th, 2020 to October 20th, 2021 was conducted. The series includes 43 cases of urgent surgical care (2020) and 27 cases of elective abdominal surgery on frail patients (2021). Seventeen procedures (24.3%) required sedation to better control patient discomfort. Only in 4/70 (5.7%) cases, conversion to general anesthesia (GA) was necessary. Conversion to GA was not related to American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) score or operative time. Only one of the four cases requiring conversion to GA was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) postoperatively. Fifteen patients (21.4%) required postoperative ICU support. A statistically non-significant association was observed between conversion to GA and postoperative ICU admission. The mortality rate was 8.5% (6 patients). Five out of six deaths occurred while in the ICU. All six were frail patients. None of these deaths was related to a complication of NA. Awake laparotomy under NA has confirmed its feasibility and safety in times of scarcity of resources and therapeutic restrictions, even in the most frail patients. We believe that this approach should be considered as an useful asset, especially for suburban hospitals.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Neuraxial blocks is the recommended mode of analgesia and anesthesia in parturients with Coronavirus 19 (COVID-19). There is limited data on the hemodynamic responses to neuraxial blocks in COVID-19 patients. We aim to compare the hemodynamic responses to neuraxial blocks in COVID-19 positive and propensity-matched COVID-19 negative parturients. METHODS: We conducted retrospective, cross-sectional case-control study of hemodynamic changes associated with neuraxial blocks in COVID-19 positive parturients in a Tertiary care academic medical center. Fifty-one COVID-19 positive women confirmed by nasopharyngeal reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), were compared with propensity-matched COVID negative controls (n = 51). Hemodynamic changes after neuraxial block were recorded by electronic medical recording system and analyzed using paired and unpaired T- test and Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney Rank Sum tests. The primary outcome was ≥ 20% change in MAP and HR after neuraxial block placement. RESULTS: In the epidural group, 7% COVID-19 positive parturients had > 20% decrease in mean arterial pressure (MAP) from baseline compared to 15% COVID-19 negative parturients (P = 0.66). In the spinal group, 83% of COVID-19 positive parturients had a decrease in MAP more than 20% from baseline compared to 71% in control (P = 0.49). MAP drop of more than 40% occurred in 29% COVID positive parturients in the spinal group versus 17% in COVID-19 negative parturients (P = 0.5465). In COVID-19 positive spinal group, 54% required vasopressors whereas 38% in COVID-19 negative spinal group required vasopressors (P = 0.387). We found a significant correlation between body mass index (BMI) > 30 and hypotension in COVID ( +) parturient with odds ratio (8.63; 95% CI-1.93 - 37.21) (P = 0.007). CONCLUSION: Incidence and severity of hypotension after neuraxial blocks were similar between COVID-19 positive and COVID-19 negative parturients. BMI > 30 was a significant risk factor for hypotension as described in preexisting literature, this correlation was seen in COVID-19 positive parturients. The likely reason for parturients with BMI > 30 in COVID negative patients not showing similar correlation, is that the sample size was small.
Subject(s)
Anesthesia, Obstetrical , Anesthesia, Spinal , COVID-19 , Hypotension , Case-Control Studies , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Hemodynamics , Humans , Hypotension/epidemiology , Pregnancy , Pregnant Women , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Our hospital became a referral center for COVID-19-positive obstetric patients from 1 May 2020. The aim of our study is to illustrate our management protocols for COVID-19-positive obstetric patients, to maintain safety standards for patients and healthcare workers. METHODS: Women who underwent vaginal or operative delivery and induced or spontaneous abortion with a SARS-CoV-2-positive nasopharyngeal swab using real-time PCR (RT-PCR) were included in the study. Severity and onset of new symptoms were carefully monitored in the postoperative period. All the healthcare workers received a nasopharyngeal swab for SARS-CoV-2 using RT-PCR serially every five days. RESULTS: We included 152 parturients with COVID-19 infection. None of the included women had general anesthesia, an increase of severe symptoms or onset of new symptoms. The RT-PCR test was "negative" for the healthcare workers. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, neuraxial anesthesia for parturients' management with SARS-CoV-2 infection has been proven to be safe for patients and healthcare workers. Neuraxial anesthesia decreases aerosolization during preoxygenation, face-mask ventilation, endotracheal intubation, oral or tracheal suctioning and extubation. This anesthesia management protocol can be generalizable.
ABSTRACT
Background and aims: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has posed many challenges for healthcare workers around the world. This study aims to present the most appropriate and evidence-based scientific advice for safe regional anesthesia practice during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: To perform regional anesthesia during respiratory disease outbreaks, several databases were investigated, including PubMed, Google Scholar, Up-to-date, and ScienceDirect. Searches were in English during a timeframe spanning from February 15, 2019, until February 15, 2021, and the applied keywords were “COVID-19 anesthesia”, “surgery”, and “operating room” Results: We have focused on definite areas such as workforce and resource planning, modification of clinical setting, preparation of equipment, supplies, and medications, selection of proper personal protective equipment (PPE), cardiorespiratory monitoring of the patient, and sedation and oxygen therapy. Other fields were assessing safe regional anesthesia techniques and monitoring during anesthesia, postanesthesia care, and follow-ups. In these recommendations, keeping the patients safe while protecting healthcare providers from potential exposure to infection is of particular interest. Conclusion: The safety of healthcare workers and patients during the anesthesia management of suspected and positive COVID-19 cases is of utmost importance. Although there is limited evidence regarding performing regional anesthesia, these presented suggestions summarize the best accessible data and explain some doubts in this respect. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences is the property of Journal of Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)
ABSTRACT
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) adds more challenges to the perioperative management of parturients. The aim of this study is to examine perioperative adverse events and hemodynamic stability among COVID-19 positive parturients undergoing spinal anesthesia. This prospective observational investigation was conducted at a tertiary teaching hospital in Jordan between January and June 2021, during which 31 COVID-19 positive parturients were identified. Each COVID-19 positive parturient was matched with a COVID-19 negative parturient who received anesthesia under similar operating conditions as a control group. Of the 31 COVID-19 patients, 22 (71%) were otherwise medically free, 8 (25.8%) were emergency cesarean sections. The sensory level of spinal block after 10 min was T8 (T6-T10) among COVID-19 positive group, compared to T4 (T4-T6) among control group (p = 0.001). There were no significant differences in heart rate, SBP, DBP, and MAP intraoperatively (p > 0.05). Twelve (36.4%) neonates born to COVID-19 positive patients were admitted to NICU, compared to four (11.8%) among control group (p = 0.018). There was no statistically significant difference in postoperative complications. In conclusion, spinal anesthesia is considered a safe anesthetic technique in COVID-19 parturients, and therefore it is the anesthetic method of choice for cesarean deliveries among COVID-19 patients.
ABSTRACT
Background: SARS-CoV-2 infection was referred to sympathetic hyperactivity, which might increase the susceptibility of neuraxial anesthesia-related hypotension resulted from sympathetic inhibition. We conducted a multicenter, retrospective, propensity score matched (PSM) cohort study to determine whether COVID-19 parturients have an increased risk of hypotension after neuraxial anesthesia for cesarean delivery. Methods: Clinical data of COVID-19 parturients were collected from the electronic medical records from 1th January to 31th May, 2020 in three hospitals of Hubei Province, China. Information of Control parturients (without COVID-19) were obtained at the same institutions over a similar period in 2019. All American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) Physical Status II full termed pregnant women who received cesarean delivery under neuraxial anesthesia were included. The primary objective was to obtain and compare the incidence of neuraxial anesthesia-related hypotension. Secondary objectives were the analysis of anesthetic implementation and administration, intraoperative maternal vital signs and adverse reactions, and neonatal Apgar scores at 1 and 5 min after delivery. The clinical characteristics of COVID-19 parturients were also analyzed. PSM was derived to balance the predictors for neuraxial anesthesia-related hypotension based on previous studies. Results: In present study, 101 COVID-19 parturients and 186 Control parturients were derived from 1,403 cases referenced to propensity score matching. The incidence of neuraxial anesthesia-related hypotension was 57.4% in COVID-19 parturients and 41.9% in Control parturients with an incidence risk ratio (IRR) of 1.37 (95% CI 1.08-1.74; P = 0.012; post-hoc Cramér's V = 0.15) in the PSM cohort. The incidences of nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and shaking were significantly higher in the COVID-19 group than Control group (48.5 vs. 17.2%, P < 0.001; 10.9 vs. 4.3%, P = 0.03; 18.8 vs. 3.2%, P < 0.001; 51.5 vs. 18.3%, P < 0.001; respectively). The Apgar scores at 1 min was significantly lower in newborns from COVID-19 parturients than that in Control babies (P = 0.04). Conclusions: An increased risk of neuraxial anesthesia-related hypotension in COVID-19 parturients undergoing cesarean delivery should be stressed.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This article provides an update of recent practice trends in neuraxial labor analgesia. It reviews available evidence regarding management of labor pain in obstetric patients with COVID-19, serious adverse events in obstetric anesthesia to help inform risk/benefit decisions, and increasingly popular neuraxial labor analgesia techniques and adjuvants. State-of-the-art modes of epidural drug delivery are also discussed. RECENT FINDINGS: There has recently been a focus on several considerations specific to obstetric anesthesia, such as anesthetic management of obstetric patients with COVID-19, platelet thresholds for the safe performance of neuraxial analgesia in obstetric patients with thrombocytopenia, and drug delivery modes for initiation and maintenance of neuraxial labor analgesia. SUMMARY: Neuraxial labor analgesia (via standard epidural, dural puncture epidural, and combined spinal epidural techniques) is the most effective therapy to alleviate the pain of childbirth. SARS-CoV-2 infection is not, in and of itself, a contraindication to neuraxial labor analgesia or cesarean delivery anesthesia. Early initiation of neuraxial labor analgesia in patients with COVID-19 is recommended if not otherwise contraindicated, as it may reduce the need for general anesthesia should emergency cesarean delivery become necessary. Consensus regarding platelet thresholds for safe initiation of neuraxial procedures has historically been lacking. Recent studies have concluded that the risk of spinal epidural hematoma formation after neuraxial procedures is likely low at or above an imprecise range of platelet count of 70-75,000 × 106/L. Thrombocytopenia has been reported in obstetric patients with COVID-19, but severe thrombocytopenia precluding initiation of neuraxial anesthesia is extremely rare. High neuraxial blockade has emerged as one of the most common serious complications of neuraxial analgesia and anesthesia in obstetric patients. Growing awareness of factors that contribute to failed conversion of epidural labor analgesia to cesarean delivery anesthesia may help avoid the risks associated with performance of repeat neuraxial techniques and induction of general anesthesia after failed epidural blockade. Dural puncture techniques to alleviate the pain of childbirth continue to become more popular, as do adjuvant drugs to enhance or prolong neuraxial analgesia. Novel techniques for epidural drug delivery have become more widely disseminated.
ABSTRACT
The treatment of surgical patients who are confirmed or suspected of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a challenge for all anesthesiologists. The safety of both patients and healthcare workers should be taken into consideration when performing anesthesia management for patients with COVID-19. General anesthesia requiring airway intervention may exacerbate COVID-19 pneumonia, and aerosol generation during airway intervention risks COVID-19 transmission to medical staff. However, regional anesthesia is not an aerosol-generating procedure. The neuraxial anesthesia may have little adverse influence on clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19 after reviewing previous case reports. Regional anesthesia may have some advantages over general anesthesia for this group of patients, but unplanned conversion to general anesthesia during surgery is not preferred. Thus, careful consideration should be given to ensure that the surgery is performed entirely under regional anesthesia. The use of ultrasound guidance and the performance by an experienced physician may reduce the incidence of failed block and complications. The use of long-acting local anesthetic prolongs the anesthetic effect of regional anesthesia. Besides, a safe and sufficient dose of local anesthetic should be used.