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ObjectiveDefine the prevalence of OSA in a population of obese pregnant women. Secondary objectives were to assess its obstetric consequences and define its risk factors in this population.MethodsThis single-center prospective study took place at the Lille University Hospital from 2010 to 2016 and included pregnant women with a body mass index (BMI) > 35 kg/m2. They underwent polysomnography (type 1 sleep testing) between 24 and 32 weeks of gestation to diagnose OSA. Clinical, obstetric, and fetal data were collected monthly and at delivery. We compared the groups with and without OSA and calculated its prevalence.ResultsThis study included 67 women with a mean BMI of 42.4 ± 6.2 kg/m2. Among them, 29 had OSA, for a prevalence of 43.3% (95% confidence interval, 31.4-55.2); it was mild or moderate in 25 women and severe in 4. Comparison of the two groups showed that women in the OSA group were older (31.9 ± 4.7 years vs 29.5 ± 4.8 years, P = .045), had chronic hypertension more frequently (37.9% vs 7.9%, P = .0027), and had a higher mean BMI (43.8 ± 6.2 kg/m2 vs 41.2 ± 6 kg/m2, P = .045). During pregnancy, they developed gestational diabetes more often (48.3% vs 23.7%, P = .04). No significant differences were observed for any of the other criteria studied.ConclusionsThe prevalence of OSA was high in our study, and women with it developed gestational diabetes during pregnancy more often. No other obstetric complications were observed.

Evaluation of pudendal nerve block on the quality of analgesia in perineal or vulvar surgery.We realised a monocentered, prospective and randomised study of all patients undergoing perineo-vulvar surgery. Two groups of patients were evaluated: general anaesthesia alone (GA group, 41 patients) and both general anaesthesia and bilateral nerve stimulator-guided pudendal nerve block (15 mL of Ropivacaïne 5 mg.mL(-1)+0,5 μg.kg(-1) of Clonidine) (PB group, 42 patients). Evaluation of pain was realised with per- and post-surgical prescription of hypnotics and antalgics was noted. The primary outcome measure was the Visual Analogic Scale (VAS) pain means scores in the first postoperative 24 hours.There was no difference in the VAS pain means scores in the first 24 hours, but it seemed to have a decrease in VAS pain at 2 hours in the PB group. Analgesic consumption during surgery was decreased in the same group. No complication of the pudendal block has been reported.The nerve stimulator-guided pudendal nerve block is a simple and useful method which can, when associated with general anesthesia, reduce per-operative antalgics consumption and a decrease in the immediate postoperative pain in perineal or vulvar surgery, without complication or lengthening operating time. Further studies are needed to confirm the effectiveness of this technique and evaluate the costs and potential complications.

Myocardial infarction is rare during pregnancy and is associated with a high maternal and foetal mortality rate. We report the case of a 32-year-old woman at 38 weeks gestation who developed a myocardial infarction with spontaneous coronary dissection treated with coronary angioplasty and who needed an emergency caesarean section. We discuss the anaesthetic management of urgent caesarean section in this context.

Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) is the only form of prion diseases linked to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). The surgical and anaesthetic management in patients having Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is rare. Maternofoetal and human transmission of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is still unknown. The principles for managing these new risks are not described in obstetric recommendations. We report the case of an 18-year-old woman, who developed the variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease during her pregnancy.

The use of epidural analgesia and anaesthesia is controversial in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) due to the potential neurotoxicity of local anaesthetics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the place and the safety of epidural obstetrical analgesia in these patients.A consecutive series of 19 patients with MS was studied over 4 years, recording the type of anaesthesia and the obstetric and neurologic observations during the pregnancy and post-partum.Ten patients had epidural analgesia. One patient had a caesarean section under epidural anaesthesia. Five patients relapsed during the post-partum period. Only one of them had an epidural for a spontaneous vaginal delivery, without any evidence of a causal relationship. Spinal anaesthesia is generally not advocated in the presence of MS due to concerns relating to the stronger local anaesthetics required and was therefore not used.The results confirm that epidural analgesia is innocuous in this context. The important points are the precise evaluation of the existing neurological symptoms and the sparing of local anaesthetics thanks to the addition of opioids.

A 24 years old girl affected by Gaucher's disease showed a wide peripheral retinal vascular ischemia with new vessel. This could be either a fortuitous association between a Gaucher's disease and Eales' syndrome or an ocular complication of Gaucher's disease not previously described. A symptomatic panretinalphotocoagulation has been performed and resulted in new vessels involution.