ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Despite controversy over the haemodynamically safest blockade for caesarean section in women with severe preeclampsia, an increasing number of anaesthetists now opt for spinal anaesthesia. In a previous study we found that spinal compared to epidural anaesthesia offered an equally safe but more effective option for these patients. The current study was designed to compare the hypotension induced by spinal anaesthesia, as measured by ephedrine requirement, between 20 normotensive and 20 severely preeclamptic but haemodynamically stabilised women. METHOD: Standardised spinal anaesthesia was instituted and ephedrine was given in boluses of 6 mg if the systolic pressure fell >20% from the baseline, or if the patient exhibited symptoms of hypotension. RESULTS: The mean ephedrine requirement of the normotensive group (27.9+/-11.6 mg) was significantly greater (P<0.01) than that of the preeclamptic group (16.4+/-15.0 mg). CONCLUSION: This suggests that the hypotension induced by spinal anaesthesia in women with severe but haemodynamically stabilised preeclampsia, is less than that of normotensive patients.
Subject(s)
Anesthesia, Obstetrical , Anesthesia, Spinal , Ephedrine/administration & dosage , Pre-Eclampsia/physiopathology , Adult , Blood Pressure/drug effects , Cesarean Section , Female , Humans , PregnancyABSTRACT
A case is described of profound respiratory depression occurring 100 min after the extradural administration of fentanyl 100 micrograms to a patient undergoing Caesarean section.
Subject(s)
Anesthesia, Epidural/adverse effects , Anesthesia, Obstetrical/adverse effects , Cesarean Section , Fentanyl/adverse effects , Respiratory Insufficiency/chemically induced , Adult , Female , Humans , Intraoperative Complications , Pregnancy , Time FactorsSubject(s)
Airway Obstruction/surgery , Infectious Mononucleosis/therapy , Adult , Humans , Male , TracheotomyABSTRACT
An intubation which was unexpectedly difficult is described. It is suggested that the cause of the difficulty was ossification and shortening of the stylohyoid ligament.
