Where is obstetric anesthesiology heading in the next decade? An Eastern European perspective.

European countries of "Eastern Block" origin took different healthcare and economic development trajectories after the Berlin Wall fell. Despite decreased maternal and neonatal mortality in the last two decades, healthcare disparities exist between the various countries. Minimum standards for obstetric anesthesia are not available for every maternity patient. Lack of equity in access to healthcare for maternity patients is multifactorial and includes differences in systems of care and health economics, and shortages of medical personnel. The war in Ukraine generates additional challenges for healthcare systems in the region, resulting from a significant increase in the number of refugees, some of whom are pregnant and require maternity services, including obstetric anesthesia and analgesia and maternal critical care. The next decade's challenges comprise the implementation of evidence-based medicine advances in the field of obstetric anesthesia and analgesia, and of maternal critical care at national levels, including access to neuraxial opioids, the broad implementation of enhanced recovery after cesarean section protocols, and more frequent use of labor epidural analgesia. Further, there needs to be improvement in medical education provided in the national language, so that healthcare providers, patients, and their families can build and provide a safe environment for maternity patients. In addition, better provision of services and access to healthcare providers who have been well trained and are dedicated to dealing with obstetric patients. These measures will hopefully enhance the quality of care for maternity patients, focusing on further reduction of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality, which is a priority and a highly desirable long-term outcome.

[NEW TECHNIQUE OF SPINAL ANESTHESIA WITH EPIDURAL VOLUME EXTENSION FOR CAESAREN SECTION IN PREGNANT WOMEN WITH CONCOMITANT CARDIAC PATHOLOGY].

BACKGROUND: Spinal anesthesia with the epidural volume extension provides the possibility of using small doses of local anesthetics and the low frequency of hypotension. However, the dose of the local anesthetic and the volume of normal saline for administration into the epidural space, remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: To study the influence of new techniques of spinal anesthesia with the epidural volume extension at the level of sensory block and hemodynamic in pregnant with concomitant cardiac pathology during cesarean section. METHODS: In an observational study were included 24 pregnant women with cardiac pathology. Women were divided into 3 groups, depending on the value of intra-abdominal pressure (lAP). Expansion of the epidural space was performed before spinal anesthesia. For spinal anesthesia we used heavy bupivacaine 0.5% (5.5 ± 0.1 mg). The volume of saline for administration into the epidural space depends on the level of lAP RESULTS: The average upper level of sensory block did not difer significantly in groups and amounted Th 2.1 ± 0.5, 95% C.I. 1.6-4.0 (p = 0.001). The only one woman in group 3 (4.1%) developed hypotension. The maximum level of motor block (Bromage score) among the groups was similar and amounted to 1.5 ± 0.2, 95% C.I. 1.0-2.0 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The new technique of spinal anesthesia with the epidural extension provides qualitative analgesia and stable hemodynamics in pregnant women with concomitant cardiac pathology

[Effect of intra-abdominal pressure in pregnant women on level of spina block and frequency of hypotension during cesarean section].

INTRODUCTION: It is common knowledge that an increase of intra-abdomninal pressure (lAP) causes a decrease in the volume of cerebrospinal fluid in the lumbar and lower thoracic region, which may contribute to the development of more high spinal block. There is currently no research devoted to studying the impact of intra-abdominal pressure in pregnancy on the development of high spinal blockade. GOAL OF THE STUDY: To investigate effects of intra-abdominal pressure in pregnancy on the development of spinal blockade and incidence of hypotension during cesarean section. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 170 pregnant women with gestational age 38-40 weeks were included in the randomized, blinded, controlled study. All the women received elective cesarean section under spinal anesthesia (SA). Pregnant women w|,ere divided into two groups of 85 females each. In the first group, the anesthesiologist did not know the value of lAP and used the dose of local anesthetic focusing on height, weight, and according to his own experience. In the second group, an anesthesiologist corrected dose of local anesthetic depending on the lAP and also considered the height and weight of a woman. RESULTS: In 9.2% of women, lAP was less than 11 mmHg (physiologically normal), in 49%--from 12 to 15 mmHg (degree I of intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH)), in 40.3%--from 16 to 20 mmHg (degree II of IAH), in 1.5%--from 21 to 25 mmHg (degree III of IAH). In the first group, the incidence of high spinal block (above Th4) and incidence of arterial hypotension (systolic blood pressure under 90 mm.Hg) was two times higher than in the second group (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Intra-abdominal hypertension in pregnant women contributed to the development of high spinal block and hypotension. To prevent these complications, we recommend decreasing the dose of local anesthetic with use of the Scale of the Risk of developing high spinal block in pregnant.

[Case of successful thrombolytic therapy in complex cardio-pulmonary resuscitation for massive pulmonary thromboembolism in parturient after elective caesarian operation].

Pulmonary thromboembolism is a main cause of parturient mortality in the world. Recently there are few reports about a thrombolytic therapy use in parturient in medical publications. The article deals with a case of successful application of thrombolysis in a complex cardio-pulmonary resuscitation in parturient with massive pulmonary thromboembolism. Unexpected dyspnea and hypotension occurred in the 30 years old woman after elective caesarian operation. Syndrome S1-Q3 was fixed on an ECG monitor. Cardiac arrest was fixed in 10 minutes later. Streptokinase was administrated in a 1 hour after beginning of the resuscitation. Haemodynamic parameters recovered almost after the administration of streptokinase. Severe uterine bleeding occurred in 20 minutes after the administration. Uterine extirpation and tight tamponade of the small pelvis was performed for the bleeding stopping. Later a floating thrombus was diagnosed in the right femoral vein. Tromboectomy was performed. Convulsions had place on first and second day after the resuscitation. Cerebral edema was diagnosed by computed tomography. Consciousness occurred on the fourth day and the woman was weaned from the ventilator on the fifth day. The patient was discharged from the hospital on 20th day without neurological complications.