A comparison of the laryngeal mask airway with the facemask and oropharyngeal airway for manual ventilation by first responders in children.

In adults, first responders to a cardiopulmonary arrest provide better ventilation using a laryngeal mask airway than a facemask. It is unclear if the same is true in children. We investigated this by comparing the ability of 36 paediatric ward nurses to ventilate the lungs of 99 anaesthetised children (a model for cardiopulmonary arrest) using a laryngeal mask airway and using a facemask with an oropharyngeal airway. Anteroposterior chest wall displacement was measured using an ultrasonic detector. Nurses achieved successful ventilation in 74 (75%) of cases with the laryngeal mask airway and 76 (77%) with facemask and oropharyngeal airway (p = 0.89). Median (IQR [range]) time to first breath was longer for the laryngeal mask airway (48 (39-65 [8-149])) s than the facemask/airway (35 (25-53 [14-120]) s; p < 0.0001). In 10 cases (10%) the lungs were ventilated using the laryngeal mask airway but not using the facemask/oropharyngeal airway. We conclude that ventilation is achieved rapidly using a facemask and oropharyngeal airway, and that the laryngeal mask airway may represent a useful second line option for first responders.

Informed consent for labor epidurals: a survey of Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology anesthesiologists from the United States.

BACKGROUND: Ethicists agree that informed consent is a process rather than just simply the signing of a form. It should provide the patient with needed information and understanding to authorize a procedure. Essential elements of informed consent for women requesting labor epidurals include a description of the procedure, the risks and benefits, and alternative treatments for analgesia including the associated risks and benefits. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine practices and opinions of obstetric anesthesiologists regarding informed consent for parturients. METHODS: Questionnaires were sent to 885 anesthesiologists who were members of the Society of Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology based in United States institutions in 2002. RESULTS: Of the 885 questionnaires sent, 448 (51%) were returned with 47% from academic and 47% from private practice institutions. Forty-six percent worked as part of an obstetric anesthesia team; 51% worked in centers where there were >3000 deliveries/year. Sixty-eight percent suggested that "parturients in active labor are able to give informed consent for labor epidural analgesia." Thirteen percent recommend antenatal anesthesia consults for parturients inquiring about labor epidurals and 41% participated in childbirth classes. Responses did not differ significantly between physicians in academic vs. private practice. More obstetric team practices than non-team practices participated in childbirth education (54% vs. 30%, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Despite the painful, stressful circumstances confronted by parturients, many respondents (76% in academic, 64% in private practice) thought that women in active labor are able to give informed consent.

Sequential compression device with thigh-high sleeves supports mean arterial pressure during Caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the use of a Sequential Compression Device (SCD) with thigh-high sleeves and a preset pressure of 50 mm Hg that recruits blood from the lower limbs intermittently, as a method to prevent spinal hypotension during elective Caesarean section. Possible association of arterial pressure changes with maternal, fetal, haemodynamic, and anaesthetic factors were studied. METHODS: Fifty healthy parturients undergoing elective Caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia were randomly assigned to either SCD (n=25) or control (n=25) groups. A standardized protocol for pre-hydration and anaesthetic technique was followed. Hypotension was defined as a decrease in any mean arterial pressure (MAP) measurement by more than 20% of the baseline MAP. Systolic (SAP), MAP and diastolic (DAP) arterial pressure, pulse pressure (PP), and heart rate (HR) were noted at baseline and every minute after the spinal block until delivery. RESULTS: A greater than 20% decrease in MAP occurred in 52% of patients in the SCD group vs 92% in the control group (P=0.004, odds ratio 0.094, 95% CI 0.018-0.488). There were no significant differences in SAP, DAP, HR, and PP between the groups. CONCLUSION: SCD use in conjunction with vasopressor significantly reduced the incidence of a 20% reduction of MAP.