Transesophageal echocardiography monitoring in the delivery of a preeclamptic parturient with severe left ventricular noncompaction.

A multidisciplinary approach to the preterm delivery of a preeclamptic parturient with severe left ventricular (LV) noncompaction and pulmonary hypertension using transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) as a monitor of hemodynamic status in lieu of a pulmonary artery catheter during general anesthesia for Cesarean section is presented. This case adds to the available literature on LV noncompaction with pulmonary hypertension in preeclamptic parturients, and addresses the anesthetic concerns and approaches to management using echocardiography in these highly complex patients.

Perioperative management of patients with an intrathecal drug delivery system for chronic pain.

The use of intrathecal medications in the treatment of chronic pain is becoming more commonplace. As such, the incidence of encountering patients receiving therapy via an intrathecal drug delivery system in the perioperative period will also increase. In this case series, we discuss anesthetic management and postoperative analgesic issues in three patients with indwelling intrathecal drug delivery systems placed for treatment of chronic pain.

Epidural haloperidol enhances epidural morphine analgesia: three case reports.

Epidural opioids provide significant postoperative analgesia; however, their use is often limited by side effects such as nausea and pruritus, or they require the addition of epidural local anesthetics with possible side effects of motor block and hypotension. Adjuncts to epidural opioid analgesia would benefit pain management. There is evidence that epidural butyrophenones may enhance opioid analgesics and reduce side effects. The authors present the first reported use of epidural haloperidol to enhance epidural morphine analgesia in three individuals. Pharmacodynamic interactions of haloperidol, which may explain its analgesic efficacy, are summarized.