Anatomic and physiologic changes during pregnancy make it more difficult to establish a safe airway in pregnant women in case of the need for surgery under general anesthesia than in the ...non-obstetric population. The inability to ventilate and oxygenate is one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality associated with general anesthesia for cesarean section. The aim of this paper is to present and analyze modern guidelines and algorithms for the management of difficult airway in obstetrics as an important segment of anesthesiology practice. Modern difficult airway management guidelines for pregnant women describe the procedure of difficult facemask ventilation, difficult airway management by using supraglottic devices, difficult endotracheal intubation, and emergency cricothyrotomy or tracheotomy in a situation where oxygenation and ventilation are impossible. Algorithms describe the procedures and equipment for each variant of difficult airway and decision-making strategies in situations when neither airway nor adequate oxygenation can be provided. Croatian anesthesiologists in most obstetric departments have appropriate equipment, as well as necessary experience in difficult airway management for pregnant women, and modern algorithms from the most developed countries can be adopted and accommodated to our daily practice, as well as incorporated into the training curricula of residents.
Regional centro-axial anaesthesia, primarily spinal block, is the preferred method of anaesthesia for elective caesarean section because it entails fewer risks for the mother and the foetus compared ...to general anaesthesia. The most common side effect associated with spinal block is hypotension due to sympatholysis, occurring in up to 75% of cases. Spinal block-induced sympatholysis leads to vasodilatation and consequently causes maternal hypotension, which may compromise uterine blood flow and foetal circulation, and thus cause foetal hypoxia, bradycardia and acidosis. The selection of the most efficient treatment strategy to achieve haemodynamic stability during spinal anaesthesia for caesarean section continues to be one of the main challenges in obstetric anaesthesiology. A number of measures for the prevention and treatment of spinal block-induced hypotension are used in clinical practice, such as preloading and coloading with crystalloid and/or colloid infusion, wrapping of lower limbs with compression stockings or bandages, administering an optimal dose of local anaesthetic and achieving an optimal spinal block level, left tilt positioning, and administering inotropes and vasopressors. Instead of administering vasopressors after a drop in blood pressure has already occurred, the latest algorithms recommend a prophylactic administration of vasopressor infusion. The preferred vasoconstrictor in this case is phenylephrine, which is associated with a lower incidence of foetal acidosis, and maternal nausea and vomiting compared to other vasoconstrictors.
Epidural analgesia is acknowledged as the most common method of analgesia during labor. If emergent Caesarean section (CS) is indicated in parturient with existing labor epidural, the need for ...conversion from epidural analgesia to regional (RA) or general anesthesia (GA) increases accordingly. Recent guidelines suggest the rate of conversion to general anesthesia shows the quality of obstetric anesthesia care and should be under 5%.
The aim of this study is to determine the conversion rate from epidural analgesia to Caesarean section anesthesia in "Sveti Duh" University Hospital Zagreb in order to enhance the quality of anesthetic care for obstetric patients.
We retrospectively included in the study all parturients who received epidural labor analgesia but needed subsequent regional or general anesthesia for Caesarean section in our institution for the period of 1st January 2021 to 31st December 2021. After the data analysis on the conversion rate from epidural analgesia to Caesarean section anesthesia had been performed, we compared our data to current standards and relevant literature findings.
Altogether 1202 epidural catheters were placed for labor analgesia in the study period, and in 199 of these cases, the emergent Caesarean section was indicated. Epidural analgesia was converted to epidural anesthesia (EA) in 153 (76,9%) parturients, to general anesthesia in 40 (20,1%), and to spinal anesthesia (SA) in six (3%) parturients. After comparison with recommended quality standards and with the results of similar studies by other authors, our findings show a significantly higher rate of conversion from epidural analgesia to general anesthesia than has been desirable since then.
In order to reach the required quality standards regarding the conversion rate from epidural analgesia to Caesarean section anesthesia, it is necessary to improve the organization of the work of the obstetric anesthesiology team according to the principle of subspecialization. It is imperative to implement the best clinical practice protocols for obstetric anesthesiologists, but also to enhance the communication and coordination with the obstetric team.
Tijekom posljednjih godina objavljen je veliki broj radova koji proučavaju učinke različitih emocionalnih interakcija između zdravstvenih djelatnika i bolesnika na ishode liječenja, cijenu ukupne ...skrbi te učinke na same zaposlenike u zdravstvu. Interes za ovo područje dijeli i šira javnost zbog raširenog mišljenja kako se suvremena medicina suviše depersonalizirala i distancirala od emocionalne uključenosti i suosjećajnosti. Tako nastaje nova znanstvena disciplina „kompasionomika“ (engl. Compassionomic) koja proučava mehanizme djelovanja i učinke na ishod liječenja suosjećajnog pristupa u zdravstvenoj skrbi. Istraživanja ukazuju da se pozitivni učinci na ishod bolesnika liječenih u okruženju koje njeguje kulturu suosjećajnosti i brižnosti postižu većim stupnjem povjerenja, time snažnijom mobilizacijom neuro-endokrinih i imunoloških mehanizama obrane te boljim pridržavanjem terapijskih preporuka. Time se poboljšava kvaliteta te istovremeno smanjuje cijena liječenja. Pritom je važno defi nirati pojam suosjećajnosti (engl. Compassion) koji u ovom kontekstu znači ne samo suosjećanje s patnjom (empatiju) već i spremnost aktivnog činjenja da se pacijentu pomogne. Preliminarna istraživanja pokazuju da bolji ishod liječenja kao rezultat većeg emocionalnog i stručnog angažmana zdravstvenim djelatnicima dolazi kao nagrada koja im pruža ispunjenje i time ukupno manji stres izgaranja. Ovakav koncept u mnogome je još hipotetičan. Međutim, ako su pretpostavke o „multiplicirajućem“ pozitivnom učinku suosjećajnosti na sve zainteresirane strane zdravstvenog sustava točne, tada se nameće potreba kreiranja i provedbe odgovarajućih edukacijskih programa, kako bi se osnažio terapijski pristup koji uključuje aktivnu suosjećajnost. Učinkovitost takvih programa može se mjeriti pomoću odgovarajućih alata koji mjere indikatore zadovoljstva pacijenata, zdravstvenih djelatnika i trećeg sektora kao i indikatore ishoda liječenja čime ulazimo u područje medicine utemeljene na dokazima. Suosjećajni pristup u liječenju svoje mjesto ima u svakoj medicinskoj djelatnosti, kako kurativnoj tako i palijativnoj, jer u svojoj biti njeguje holistički pristup s bolesnikom u središtu, s punom društvenom odgovornošću i visokim moralnim i etičkim standardima struke.
This study compared the self-assessed health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and degree of depression between patients with chronic neuropathic nonodontogenic orofacial pain (NOFP) and healthy ...controls using the Short Form Survey (SF-36) health status questionnaire and Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II). This controlled cross-sectional study included 100 patients and 119 healthy controls. The diagnostic protocol recorded the following: 1) pain intensity using a visual analog scale for the time of examination and during the one-month prior; 2) evidence for neuropathic pain using the Leeds questionnaire for neuropathic signs and symptoms (LANSS); 3) emotional status using the BDI-II; and 4) HRQoL using the SF-36 questionnaire. The mean LANSS score was 17.18 in the patient group and 0.0 in the control group. The mean BDI-II score was 18.31 in the patient group and 5.87 in the control group. The SF-36 scores were shown with Mann-Whitney U testing to have statistically significant differences between the patient and healthy control groups in all categories. Vitality was the only SF-36 category in which the patient group scored higher than the control group. In conclusion, NOFP significantly reduces the self-reported HRQoL. NOFP is also related to the development of depression, but does not affect its severity. There is a significant correlation between depression and low quality of life in patients with NOFP.
Medico-legal responsibility in the management of acute or chronic pain in broad sense implies acting by the rules of good clinical practice and reducing the potential treatment side effects and ...complications that may entail health impairment and possible legal proceedings. Patients with acute or chronic obstetric or nonobstetric pain should be informed on the mode and method of treatment, possible side effects, and effects of drugs or procedures on fetal growth and development (informed consent). The principles of perinatal pharmacology and toxicology should be respected, choosing the mode of treatment associated with the lowest rate of side effects and a minimally invasive procedure (Accordingly, medico-legal responsibility is a professional and deontological category that should be fostered and implemented in line with professional guidelines and safety for both patients and medical staff.).
Acute respiratory syndrome caused by a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in pregnant women can progress to a critical condition. In this paper, we present a case of a woman in the 28th week of gestation ...hospitalized due to respiratory insufficiency caused by COVID-19 infection and consequent bilateral pneumonia with development of severe acute respiratory distress syndrome. Noninvasive ventilation through a face mask was started but due to progression of respiratory insufficiency with high FiO2 and positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP), we decided to intubate the patient, after which obstetricians agreed to complete pregnancy by cesarean section. The clinical course was complicated by desaturation and bradycardia with recurring asystole which recovered after the use of atropine. The patient was increasingly difficult to mechanically ventilate on the PSIMV modality (tidal volume TV <200 mL). She was switched to ASV modality (TV up to a maximum of 350 mL, ASV 130%, PEEP 16 cm H2O, FiO2 100%, RR 25/min, pPeak 35 cm H2O, pPlateau 35 cm H2O), after which peripheral saturation recovered to 89%. Due to inadequate mechanical ventilation, the patient was transferred to Dr. Fran Mihaljević University Hospital for Infectious Diseases in order to perform extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Owing to all of the measures taken, recovery followed after 13 days on ECMO.
Quality assessment of provided healthcare is becoming a standard in numerous health institutions worldwide, which is beneficial for both the patient and the institution. In order to achieve this ...standard, it is necessary to develop quality indicators in all segments of healthcare. Postdural puncture headache is a common complication following neuraxial blocks, especially in obstetric anesthesia. If severe, it is a cause of emotional and psychological distress and must be treated by a blood patch.
The aim of this study was to determine whether the number of these complications is reduced when blood patch frequency is monitored and analyzed and to assess the effect of countermeasures in order to improve the quality and safety of regional anesthesia in obstetrics.
Before 2009 and during that year at the University Hospital Sveti Duh, there had been a large number of severe postdural puncture headaches after spinal anesthesia and epidural analgesia treated by a blood patch in 6.12% of cases. After noticing the rising number of blood patches, we decided to analyses data every year. We recorded all blood patches injected to obstetric patients within the period of nine year, from 2009 to 2018 and concurrently we introduced a set of measures to improve the quality of neuraxial blocks, such as the use of atraumatic 26 or 27-gauge pencil-point spinal needles and modern neuraxial blockade protocols. Data were collected from anesthesiology and gynecology protocols and analyzed with MedCalc software, version 18.1.2.
The frequency of blood patch applications has been reduced from 6.12% to 0.30%, which is statistically significant. The percentage of placed epidural catheters for vaginal birth increased from 21% in 2009 to 38% in 2018. Although not statistically significant, the number of pregnant women undergoing a caesarean section is also growing, while the total number of births is falling. The proportion of cesarean sections in spinal anesthesia varies from year to year.
A statistically significant decrease in the number of installed blood patches clearly indicates the positive effect of measures taken to improve quality, which could contribute to the growing interest of pregnant women in childbirth in epidural analgesia. The number of placed epidural catheters is increasing despite the decline in the total number of deliveries and the increase in the number of deliveries completed by cesarean section.
Monitoring the incidence of severe post-puncture headaches treated with blood patches has shown great progress in improving the quality and safety of regional anesthesia and analgesia in our institution, so we believe that monitoring the number of blood patches could serve as an indicator of regional anesthesia and analgesia in obstetrics. Monitoring the number of blood patches shows that the frequency of post-puncture headaches does not correlate only with the type of needle or epidural catheter used for neuroaxial blocks, but is also a sensitive indicator of any deviations from the achieved standards. Furthermore, it indicates the need for careful analysis of causes in order to adopt and implement appropriate countermeasures.
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