ABSTRACT
One hundred obstetric patients presenting for elective surgery who had refused regional anaesthesia were interviewed just prior to entering the operating room. In each case, the reason for refusing a regional technique was recorded. The most frequent reasons given were fear of backache (33%) and fear of the needle (28%). Anaesthetists should be aware of patients' concerns and be able to discuss the relevant issues.
Subject(s)
Anesthesia, Conduction/psychology , Anesthesia, Obstetrical/psychology , Treatment Refusal , Adolescent , Adult , Back Pain/psychology , Cesarean Section , Dilatation and Curettage , Fear , Female , Humans , Pregnancy , Sterilization, TubalABSTRACT
A case of locked twins is described in which delivery of the aftercoming head of the first infant, which presented by the breech, was prevented by the presence below it of the head of the second infant, which presented by the vertex. Disimpaction under lumbar epidural analgesia was achieved, the head of the second infant being pushed up out of the pelvis. Both infants survived. This is thought to be the first case to be described in which disimpaction was achieved rapidly under lumbar epidural analgesia, thereby minimising the period of hypoxia to which the first infant was subjected.
