Bupivacaine Dosing for Cesarean Delivery in Parturients of Short Stature: A Retrospective Case-Control Study.

The ED50 and ED95 of spinal bupivacaine for cesarean delivery has been well described in the literature; however, parturients with extremes of stature have been excluded. Parturients of short stature are a height of ≤ 148 cm. This retrospective, case-control study evaluated anesthetic outcomes for parturients of short stature and controls who underwent cesarean delivery over a 10-year period. Women were matched for anesthetic type and body mass index. Data extracted included patient demographics and obstetric and anesthetic information. The primary outcome was dose of intrathecal bupivacaine. Categorical data were compared using a chi-squared test, continuous data were compared using a t-test or Mann-Whitney U test. Data for 26 women of short stature and 52 controls were evaluated. The mean dose of bupivacaine used for spinal anesthesia in parturients of short stature was 9.8 ± 1.0 mg (P <.0001). The mean intrathecal bupivacaine dose used in combined spinal epidural anesthesia was 10.5 mg (interquartile range, 9-10.9) in parturients of short stature (P = .002). All but one patient of short stature achieved an adequate surgical level; there were no instances of high spinal blockade. Adequate surgical anesthesia was achieved with reduced dosing of spinal bupivacaine in parturients of short stature without an increase in adverse outcomes.

Thoracic trauma: the deadly dozen.

Deadly Dozen ... Lethal Six ... Hidden Six ... Major thoracic injuries are known as the Deadly Dozen. The Lethal Six (airway obstruction, tension pneumothorax, cardiac tamponade, open pneumothorax, massive hemothorax, and flail chest) are immediate, life-threatening injuries that require evaluation and treatment during primary survey. The Hidden Six (thoracic aortic disruption, tracheobronchial disruption, myocardial contusion, traumatic diaphragmatic tear, esophageal disruption, and pulmonary contusion) are potentially life-threatening injuries that should be detected during secondary survey. Each of these may present as immediately life-threatening or potentially life-threatening events. This article provides an overview of these 12 injuries and appropriate management for each. Case studies are included.