Trauma is a leading nonobstetric cause of mortality among pregnant women. Managing a pregnant trauma victim is a unique challenge as one is dealing with two lives at the same time. Initial optimal management of a parturient plays an important role in survival. Various physiological and anatomical changes occur in pregnancy that has important implications in the management. Some complications like abruption placenta, rupture uterus, amniotic fluid embolism and isoimmunization are peculiar to pregnant trauma patients. In this review, we discuss the initial management of parturient with trauma along with various physiological and anatomical changes and their implications.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub] [CITATIONS]

Placenta percreta is a rare condition during pregnancy in which the abnormal presentation of placenta penetrates the uterine wall and invades into the surrounding organs including bowel and bladder. With the increasing rate of cesarean sections, the incidence of placenta percreta has also increased. This is a condition which gives rise to a major obstetric hemorrhage, peripartum hysterectomy, and maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. This case report presents a successful obstetric and anesthetic management of a patient with preoperatively diagnosed placenta percreta.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub] [CITATIONS]

Context: Early identification of high-risk parturient and maternal physiological deterioration may reduce maternal morbidity and mortality. Aims: This study aimed to develop a comprehensive scoring system 'Saving Mothers Score' (SMS) to identify the sick mothers and validate SMS against the existing Modified Early Obstetric Warning System (MEOWS). Settings and Design: The SMS was developed through a formative research, item pool generation, content and construct validity. Methodology: Thirty-three (33) items were identified and pooled into three parameters pregnancy-related risk factors, physiological variables and biochemical tests. Each item was given a colour coding and a score. The trigger and score of SMS was prospectively analysed in 120 obstetric in-patients. Statistical Analysis Used: Tests of diagnostic effectiveness and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) around point estimates. Results: Forty six women triggered (38.33%; 95% CI: 29.96, 47.26) and 41 (81.93%, 95% CI: 77.54, 95.91) of these 46 women developed morbidity. The overall accuracy of SMS chart was similar for trigger [sensitivity 60.9%; specificity 98.6%, area under receiver operator characteristic curve (AUROC) 0.80] and scoring (sensitivity 56.1%; specificity 92.4%, AUROC 0.74) with positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of 96.6% and 80.2%, respectively. The accuracy of SMS was comparable to MEOWS (sensitivity 54.6%, specificity 97.8%, PPV 92.5% and NPV 79.9%). Conclusions: The diagnostic effectiveness of SMS was comparable to MEOWS. SMS may be used as a screening test to identify a sick mother. SMS can predict morbidity, help in triage and early intervention or timely referral to a higher centre.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]

Background: Spinal anesthesia using low doses of local anesthetics with opioids is emerging as a useful technique for day care surgeries. Levobupivacaine, a lesser toxic enantiomer of bupivacaine, has now been increasingly used in various gynecological surgeries. However, its use has not been demonstrated in medical termination of pregnancy (MTP) with sterilization (a kind of day care surgery). This study was performed to compare analgesic and anesthetic effectiveness of low-dose hyperbaric 0.5% levobupivacaine and hyperbaric 0.5% bupivacaine in combination with fentanyl in spinal anesthesia in patients undergoing MTP with sterilization. Methods: A comparative, randomized, double-blind study was conducted in 90 patients scheduled to undergo elective MTP with sterilization. Group levobupivacaine (L) (n = 45) received 7.5 mg (1.5 mL) of 0.5% isobaric levobupivacaine + 1 mL of 5% dextrose and fentanyl 25 mcg (0.5 mL), while group bupivacaine (B) (n = 45) received 7.5 mg (1.5 mL) of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine + 1 mL of normal saline and fentanyl 25 mcg (0.5 mL). They were compared with respect to onset and duration of sensory and motor block, time to reach highest sensory level, time to two segments' regression, and total duration of analgesia. Results: Sensory and motor block onset and time to achieve highest level of sensory block were significantly delayed in group L (P < 0.05). Duration of sensory block and duration of analgesia was longer in group L than group B. Motor block duration was significantly shorter in L group (88.4 ± 12.4 min in group L and 133.9 ± 28.1 min in group B). Both groups were comparable in terms of hemodynamic parameters and adverse effects. Conclusion: This study suggests that 7.5 mg of 0.5% levobupivacaine usage in spinal anesthesia provides longer duration of analgesia and better sensory blockade with minimal motor block when compared with 0.5% bupivacaine along with fentanyl and may be a better alternative to bupivacaine in day care surgeries.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]

Introduction: Peripheral nerve blocks after cesarean section (C-section) reduce post-operative use of analgesic agents. Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block is an effective way to provide postoperative analgesia. TAP block with ropivacaine alone has not consistently been proven to be useful after C-section, and dexmedetomidine has not been studied as an adjuvant to ropivacaine for TAP blocks after C-section. Objective: To compare the combination of dexmedetomidine and ropivacaine to ropivacaine alone for TAP block after C-section for time to onset of pain and time to rescue analgesia. Materials and Methods: Forty American Society of Anesthesiology grade I or II patients undergoing C-section were enrolled in this randomized, controlled, double-blind study. Twenty patients each were allocated to two groups receiving bilateral TAP block. Test group received TAP block with 3 mg/kg of ropivacaine with 50 μg of dexmedetomidine. Control group received TAP block with 3 mg/kg of ropivacaine. Patient demographics, time to initial reporting of pain, time to first rescue analgesia, quality of block, and side effects were recorded. Results: Time to initial onset of pain (6.6 vs. 5.03 h; P = 0.01) and time to first rescue analgesia (7.8 vs. 6.47 h; P = 0.03) were significantly longer in the test group compared with control group. The two groups were similar in demographics and quality of block. No significant difference in side effects was noted between the two groups. Conclusion: Addition of dexmedetomidine to ropivacaine for TAP block in patients undergoing C-section prolonged the time to initial onset of pain and time to first rescue analgesia.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub] [CITATIONS]

Introduction: Intensive care units (ICUs) receive obstetric patients with medical and surgical complications as well as obstetrical emergencies. These patients needing intensive care present an exclusive challenge both for the obstetrician as well as the intensivist. In developing countries such as India, due to scarcity of ICU resources, maternal morbidity and mortality of such patients is high. Objectives: The aim of our study was to examine the pattern of admission, prevalence, causes, and the outcomes of critically ill obstetric patients admitted to an Indian ICU and the factors affecting mortality. Materials and Methods: A prospective study of all obstetric patients (pregnant and within 6 weeks postpartum) admitted in a 48-bedded ICU of a tertiary care hospital over a period of 18 months from January 2015 to June 2016 was done. The data collected included demographics, obstetric and medical history, illness severity scores, organ failures, treatment given, the ICU stay, hospital stay, and outcomes. Results: A total of 48 obstetric patients were admitted in the ICU during the study period. Mean age was 29.27 ± 5.910 years, mean APACHE-II was 12.77 ± 7.553, and SOFA score was 6.36 ± 4.235. Postpartum hemorrhage was the commonest cause for ICU admission (23%). Of the study patients, 40% had sepsis, 33% had multiorgan failure, 48% required ventilator support, and 25% had need for vasopressors. Mortality of study patients was 8.3%. Average ICU stay was 6.6 days. APACHE-II, SOFA scores, ICU stay and hospital stay, and multiorgan failure are significant predictors of mortality in obstetric critically ill patients. Conclusion: APACHE-II, SOFA scores, and ICU stay are strong predictors of maternal mortality in ICU. APACHE-II and SOFA scores overpredict mortality in obstetric patients. Early assessment and intervention of critically ill obstetrical patients with a team approach involving obstetricians and intensivists is ideal. All obstetric residents should have a mandatory short ICU training.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub] [CITATIONS]

Hysteroscopy is becoming fairly common in most centers these days, both as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool especially for short day-care procedures, reducing unnecessary hospital admissions and overuse of resources. However, these procedures are not without complications, and some could be delayed and potentially fatal if a high index of suspicion is not maintained. One such rare yet one with a high mortality among urological patients is the transurethral resection syndrome on which there is a cornucopia of literature in the form of articles and chapters. There are very few highlighting a similar syndrome of sorts called the operative hysteroscopy intravascular absorption syndrome. Here, we describe one such case, and in brief, the anesthetic management options for hysteroscopic procedures to prevent such a complication.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub] [CITATIONS]

Spinal tuberculosis (Pott's disease) during pregnancy is reported to be rare and can be associated with destruction of the intervertebral disc and adjacent vertebrae that can lead to cord compression and thereby paraplegia or quadriplegia. Awareness of signs and suitable investigations may be delayed due to pregnancy, as patient and clinician may attribute these to the gravid state. The existing literature is limited and inconclusive regarding general anaesthesia using double-lumen endotracheal tube with lung isolation technique in the surgical decompression of spinal tuberculosis during pregnancy. We describe the successful anaesthesia management of a 26-week primigravida with 3^rd to 5^th thoracic spine (T3–T5) tuberculosis with paraparesis who underwent T4 corpectomy with T3–T5 fusion through transaxillary transthoracic approach.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]

[FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub] [CITATIONS]

Cerebral arteriovenous malformation (AVM) or aneurysm in pregnancy is a complex situation and there is no definite recommendation regarding mode of anesthesia for patient with this type of intracranial pathology. We present a case series on the anesthetic management in two pregnant patients with either cerebral AVM or aneurysm presenting for elective cesarean section. Our case series highlights the following: (1) team working and collaboration with neurosurgeon and obstetrician to improve patient outcome; (2) crucial role of anesthetic management in reducing perioperative complications; (3) anesthetic management goals so as to minimize the risk of hemorrhage from an AVM or aneurysm.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]

Hyperhomocysteinemia is due to genetic and acquired changes in the metabolism of homocysteine. It is associated with an increased risk for vascular occlusive disease and thrombosis. Because methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase abnormality is a genetic disorder and hyperhomocysteinemia along with pregnancy in women further aggravates the risk of thrombosis; therefore, these patients undergo antepartum anticoagulant treatment with low molecular weight heparin. These patients pose a unique challenge to anesthetist, when it comes to choosing a type of anesthesia. Neuraxial anesthesia techniques may be relatively contraindicated in anticoagulated patients and nitrous oxide may exacerbate the condition, by inhibiting the conversion of homocysteine to methionine. In this study, we intend to discuss the anesthetic implications and management of a pregnant patient with hyperhomocysteinemia undergoing cesarean section.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]

Epidural analgesia is the gold standard for providing labor analgesia, but an obstetric anesthesiologist should be well versed with many other non-pharmacological modalities of pain management. The present case highlights the importance of non-pharmacological methods of labor analgesia that might be the only options available in certain subset of patients to provide adequate labor analgesia.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub] [CITATIONS]

Amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) is a potentially catastrophic complication unique to pregnancy, characterised by its poorly understood pathophysiology and diverse clinical manifestations. We present the case of a 37-year-old G1P1 mother, who developed sudden cardiovascular collapse in the immediate post-partum period. We detail the diagnostic uncertainty surrounding the condition and use this case to illustrate the clinical spectrum of AFE presentation.

[ABSTRACT]  [FULL TEXT]  [PDF]  [Mobile Full text]  [EPub]