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Background: The use of eye tracking in the simulated setting can help improve our understanding of what sources of information clinicians are using as they deliver routine patient care. The aim of this simulation study was to observe the differences, if any, between the eye tracking patterns of leaders who performed best in a simulated postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) high-fidelity scenario, in comparison with those who performed worst., Methods: Forty anesthesia trainees from the University of Catania Medical School were divided into eight teams, to enact four times the same scenario of a patient with postpartum hemorrhage following vaginal delivery. Trainees who were assigned the leader's role wore the eye tracking glasses during the scenario, and their behavioral skills were evaluated by two observers, who reviewed the video recordings of the scenarios using a standardized checklist. The leader's eye tracking metrics, extracted from 27 selected areas of interest (AOI), were recorded by a Tobii Pro Glasses 50 Hz wearable wireless eye tracker. Team performance was evaluated using a PPH checklist. After completion of the study, the leaders were divided into two groups, based on the scores they had received (High-Performance Leader group, HPL, and Low-Performance Leader group, LPL)., Results: In the HPL group, the duration and number of fixations were greater, and the distribution of gaze was uniformly distributed among the various members of the team as compared with the LPL group (with the exception of the participant who performed the role of the obstetrician). The HPL group also looked both at the patient's face and established eye contact with their team members more often and for longer (P < .05). The team performance (PPH checklist) score was greater in the HPL group (P < .001). The LPL group had more and/or longer fixations of technical areas of interest (P < .05)., Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the leaders who perform the best distribute their gaze across all members of their team and establish direct eye contact. They also look longer at the patient's face and dwell less on areas that are more relevant to technical skills. In addition, the teams led by these best performing leaders fulfilled their clinical task better. The information provided by the eye behaviors of "better-performing physicians" may lay the foundation for the future development of both the assessment process and the educational tools used in simulation., Trial Registration: Clinical.Trial.Gov ID n. NCT04395963 .

This article was migrated. The article was marked as recommended. The most common debriefing structure usually includes at least three phases, a time to confront reactions and/or emotions felt during the scenario, an analysis of events and a summary or application phase, in which the learning acquired throughout the debriefing is solidified and the major take- home messages condensed. However, using only open-ended questions and/or the puls/delta method, participants' attitudes may remain unchanged and result in only superficial reflections of the scenario. The purpose of this article is to describe and propose incorporating strategic dialogue after the healthcare high fidelity scenario in the standard debriefing. Strategic dialogue alternates analogical and digital language and uses metaphors and paraphrases, guiding the participant to live a corrective emotional experience, the primary cause of the change. The structure of the strategic dialogue is based on the use of questions with the illusion of alternatives, restructuring paraphrases, the evocation of sensations and summary redefinitions, in order to reach the discovery that leads to change. The simulation method is well suited and integrated with strategic communication. Both aim at change, which must first be experienced and then explained. The central focus of strategic short therapy is the corrective emotional experience in which the patient modifies his or her vision of reality through concrete emotional experiences. The change, in order to be rapid and effective, must primarily produce a real personal experience of transformation on a perceptive-emotional level and only then can it be the subject of cognitive reasoning. The change must first pass from the experience phase and only then to the level of cognitive awareness. The strategic language, an effective tool in strategic psychotherapy and business problem solving, is ideal and complementary to the standard debriefing methods, making them more performing and functional because, next to common logic, it makes use of non-ordinary logical language., (Copyright: © 2020 Capogna G et al.)

Background: The world is facing a massive burden from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Governments took the extraordinary step of locking down their own countries to curb the spread of the coronavirus. After weeks of severe restrictions, countries have begun to relax their strict lockdown measures. However, reopening will not be back to normal.Simulation facilities (SF) are training spaces that enable health professionals and students to learn skills and procedures in a safe and protected environment. Today's clinicians and students have an expectation that simulation laboratories are part of lifelong healthcare education. There is great uncertainty about how COVID-19 will impact future training in SF. In particular, the delivery of training activities will benefit of adequate safety measures implemented for all individuals involved.This paper discusses how to safely reopen SF in the post-lockdown phase., Main Body: The paper outlines 10 focus points and provides operational tips and recommendations consistent with current international guidelines to reopen SF safely in the post-lockdown phase. Considering a variety of national advices and regulations which describe initial measures for the reopening of workplaces as well as international public health recommendations, we provide points of reflection that can guide decision-makers and SF leaders on how to develop local approaches to specific challenges. The tips have been laid out taking also into account two main factors: (a) the SF audience, mainly consisting of undergraduate and postgraduate healthcare professionals, who might face exposure to COVID-19 infection, and (b) for many simulation-based activities, such as teamwork training, adequate physical distancing cannot be maintained., Conclusions: The planning of future activities will have to be based not only on safety but also on flexibility principles.Sharing common methods consistent with national and international health guidelines, while taking into account the specific characteristics of the different contexts and centres, will ultimately foster dissemination of good practices.This article seeks to further the conversation. It is our hope that this manuscript will prompt research about the impact of such mitigation procedures and measures in different countries., Competing Interests: Competing interestsIngrassia holds a professorship and leads the Centro Interdipartimentale di Didattica Innovativa e di Simulazione in Medicina e Professioni Sanitarie (SIMNOVA) at the Università del Piemonte Orientale in Novara, Italy. Szyld, Tomola and Leon-Castelao are faculty in is Centre for Medical Simulation (CMS) in Boston, USA; Centro di Simulazione (CeSi) at Centro Professionale Sociosanitario in Lugano, Switzerland; and Universitat de Barcelona, Spain, respectively. Capogna leads the Centro di Simulazione EESOA, Scuola di Anestesia, in Rome, Italy. Diaz-Navarro does not have any competing interest., (© The Author(s) 2020.)

Background: The occurrence of false losses of resistance may be one of the reasons for inadequate or failed epidural block. A CompuFlo® epidural instrument has been introduced to measure the pressure of human tissues in real time at the orifice of a needle and has been used as a tool to identify the epidural space. The aim of this study was to investigate the sensitivity and the specificity of the ability of CompuFlo® to differentiate the false loss of resistance from the true loss of resistance encountered during the epidural space identification procedure., Method: We performed epidural block with the CompuFlo® epidural instrument in 120 healthy women who requested labor epidural analgesia. The epidural needle was considered to have reached the epidural space when an increase in pressure (accompanied by an increase in the pitch of the audible tone) was followed by a sudden and sustained drop in pressure for more than 5 seconds accompanied by a sudden decrease in the pitch of the audible tone, resulting in the formation of a low and stable pressure plateau. We evaluate the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of the ability of CompuFlo® recordings to correctly identify the true LOR from the false LOR., Results: The drop in pressure associated with the epidural space identification was significantly greater than that recorded after the false loss of resistance (73% vs 33%) ( P =0.000001). The sensitivity was 0.83, and the AUC was 0.82., Discussion: We have confirmed the ability of CompuFlo® to differentiate the false loss of resistance from the true loss of resistance and established its specificity and sensitivity., Conclusion: An easier identification of dubious losses of resistance during the epidural procedure is essential to reduce the number of epidural attempts and/or needle reinsertions with the potential of a reduced risk of accidental dural puncture especially in difficult cases or when the procedure is performed by trainees.

Background: In this study, we describe a custom-made new epidural simulator, created by modifying the inner structure of a commercially available one, in the attempt to make it adequately realistic. To validate and evaluate the realism of our device, we used the Computerized Epidural Instrument CompuFlo., Method: The Compuflo CompuFlo curves obtained from 64 experiments on the epidural simulator were compared to 64 curves obtained from a previous human study, from consecutive laboring parturients requesting epidural analgesia., Results: Epidural simulator and human pressure curves were very similar. There was a significant difference between the drop of pressure due to false and true loss of resistance (LOR) in both the groups., Discussion: Our simulator can realistically reproduce the anatomical layers the needle must pass as demonstrated by the similarity between the simulator and human pressure curves and the small differences of pressure values recorded. CompuFlo may be used as an objective tool to create and assess and compare objectively the epidural task trainers.

Background: We organized a training program for oral fiber optic intubation (FOI) under conscious sedation. The efficacy of the program was evaluated by comparing the performances of experts and novices., Methods: The training procedure was divided into two sessions: a theoretical session on difficult airways, the fiber optic bronchoscope (FOB), remifentanil, topical anesthesia and patient interactions; and a session involving simulations of the FOI technique on dummies. For in vivo FOI, we enrolled patients requiring orotracheal intubation for elective surgery. Electrocardiograms, mean arterial pressure was railroaded over the fiberscope, and tracheal intubati6 and 7) FOIs, respectively, joined the study. To reach ±23 bpm, P=0.02), and RR was decreased (from 16±3 to 12±4 bpm, P<0.05). No differences were recorded between the experts and less-experienced anesthesiologists. The average duration of FOI was 3.3±2.0 min for experts and 4.2±2.4 min for novices (P=0.03). Procedures were successful in both groups, with patients in each group being equally satisfied with the procedures., Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of a structured FOI training program, demonstrating that it is possible to learn to perform FOI proficiently by practicing on dummies.

Purpose of Review: After initiating neuraxial labor analgesia, there are many techniques that can be used to maintain analgesia for the duration of labor. In this review, we have examined the new techniques of maintenance of epidural labor analgesia recently proposed to overcome the undesirable effects of continuous infusion and patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA)., Recent Findings: As labor progresses, there is a greater need for analgesia. PCEA with basal infusion, automated intermittent mandatory boluses, programmed intermittent epidural boluses and computer-integrated PCEA have been introduced to combine the advantages of a manual bolus and continuous infusion, thus matching infusion rate and bolus modality to the patient's analgesic needs. Increased maternal satisfaction, reduced anesthetic consumption and decreased incidence of motor block are features of these new maintenance techniques., Summary: Technology has now provided us with more advanced drug delivery systems that may have the potential to fulfill the maternal requirements of a safe, natural, and painless childbirth, tailoring the analgesic regimen for each parturient's need.

Background: We are introducing a new epidural/spinal simulation unit to be used either as a part-task trainer to teach and learn regional anesthesia techniques or to be inserted in the manikin's back to allow reliable advanced simulation scenarios. The aim of this study was to determine if it may be a useful tool for training novice anesthesiologists in these procedures according to the evaluation performed by experienced anesthetists., Methods: Experienced anesthetists performed an epidural followed by a lumbar puncture procedure on the simulator model. Various aspects of both epidural and lumbar puncture insertions were scored for likeness to a real patient using a Likert scale., Results: Experienced anesthetists found the simulator to be life-like for almost all the aspects of epidural or spinal insertion and that the overall impression was that the simulator could provide a useful tool for training of epidural and spinal techniques. Almost all the examiners appreciated that this device contained layers representing the anatomical boundaries of each compartment, and the module can be added blood or sponge to the epidural compartment or water to the spinal compartment to challenge the trainee with more difficult procedure such as inadvertent dural or vascular puncture or difficult catheter insertion., Conclusion: This device to be inserted in a full scale manikin may be a promising tool for training of neuraxial procedures. It could be also an essential component of more complex high fidelity scenarios when neuraxial anesthesia is one of the major learning goals.

Background: Programmed intermittent epidural anesthetic bolus (PIEB) technique may result in reduced total local anesthetic consumption, fewer manual boluses, and greater patient satisfaction compared with continuous epidural infusion (CEI). In this randomized, double-blind study, we compared the incidence of motor block and labor outcome in women who received PIEB or CEI for maintenance of labor analgesia. The primary outcome variable was maternal motor function and the secondary outcome was mode of delivery., Methods: Nulliparous, term women with spontaneous labor and cervical dilation <4 cm were eligible to participate in the study. Epidural analgesia was initiated and maintained with a solution of levobupivacaine 0.0625% with sufentanil 0.5 μg/mL. After an initial epidural loading dose of 20 mL, patients were randomly assigned to receive PIEB (10 mL every hour beginning 60 minutes after the initial dose) or CEI (10 mL/h, beginning immediately after the initial dose) for the maintenance of analgesia. Patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) using a second infusion pump with levobupivacaine 0.125% was used to treat breakthrough pain. The degree of motor block was assessed in both lower extremities using the modified Bromage score at regular intervals throughout labor; the end point was any motor block in either limb. We also evaluated PCEA bolus doses and total analgesic solution consumption., Results: We studied 145 subjects (PIEB = 75; CEI = 70). Motor block was reported in 37% in the CEI group and in 2.7% in the PIEB group (P < 0.001; odds ratio = 21.2; 95% CI: 4.9-129.3); it occurred earlier (P = 0.008) (hazard ratio = 7.8; 95% CI: 1.9-30.8; P = 0.003) and was more frequent at full cervical dilation in the CEI group (P < 0.001). The incidence of instrumental delivery was 20% for the CEI group and 7% for the PIEB group (P = 0.03). Total levobupivacaine consumption, number of patients requiring additional PCEA boluses, and mean number of PCEA boluses per patient were lower in the PIEB group (P < 0.001). No differences in pain scores and duration of labor analgesia were observed., Conclusions: Maintenance of epidural analgesia with PIEB compared with CEI resulted in a lower incidence of maternal motor block and instrumental vaginal delivery.

Background and Objective: The up-down sequential allocation model has been adapted to estimate the relative potency ratios for analgesia and motor block of the most commonly used epidural and intrathecal local anaesthetics. The aim of this study was to establish the median effective doses (ED50) for motor block with intrathecal bupivacaine and to estimate the ED50 ratios of these in male, female and pregnant patients., Methods: In this prospective, double-blind, parallel group, up-down sequential allocation study, we enrolled 30 male patients, 30 female, non-pregnant patients and 30 pregnant patients undergoing elective surgery under combined spinal-epidural anesthesia. The first two groups consisted of male or female patients undergoing elective lower limb surgery and the third group consisted of pregnant women at term (>36 and <41 weeks) with singleton pregnancies undergoing elective caesarean delivery. Patients received intrathecal isobaric bupivacaine 0.5% as part of the spinal-epidural anaesthesia technique. The initial dose was 4 mg and the testing interval was 1 mg with subsequent doses being determined by the outcome in the previous patient in the same group. The end point for efficacy was the occurrence of motor block in the lower limbs within 5 min., Results: There were significant (P < 0.0001) differences in ED50 estimates for motor block with intrathecal bupivacaine: 6.9 mg for men [95% confidence interval (CI), 5.2-8.6), 5.2 mg for women (95% CI, 4.5-5.8) and 3.4 mg for pregnant women (95% CI, 2.9-4.0)., Conclusion: We have demonstrated a hierarchy of potencies for motor block with intrathecal bupivacaine for men, women and pregnant women suggesting possible relevant differences owing to the effects of both sex and pregnancy.

Background: In this study, we sought to determine the median effective dose (ED50) for motor block of intrathecal ropivacaine, levobupivacaine, and bupivacaine and to define their motor-blocking potency ratios., Methods: We enrolled 104 parturients undergoing elective cesarean delivery with combined spinal-epidural anesthesia and randomized them to one of three groups to receive intrathecal 0.5% (wt/vol) ropivacaine, levobupivacaine, or bupivacaine. The initial dose was 4 mg, and the testing interval was set at 1 mg. Efficacy was determined by the occurrence of any motor block in either lower limb (modified Bromage and hip motor function scale) within 5 min after the spinal injection., Results: As assessed using up-down analysis, intrathecal ED50 for motor block was 5.79 mg for ropivacaine (95% CI 4.62-6.96), 4.83 mg for levobupivacaine (95% CI 4.35-5.32) and 3.44 mg for bupivacaine (95% CI 2.55-4.34) (P < 0.0007). The relative motor blocking potency ratios were ropivacaine/bupivacaine 0.59 (95% CI, 0.42-0.82), ropivacaine/levobupivacaine 0.83 (95% CI 0.64-1.09), and levobupivacaine/bupivacaine 0.71 (95% CI 0.51-0.98)., Conclusions: There is a clinical profile of potency for motor block for the pipecolylxylidines when administered spinally: low, intermediate, and high for ropivacaine, levobupivacaine, and bupivacaine, respectively.

Unlabelled: This study established the median effective dose (ED(50)) for motor block of intrathecal 1% and 0.1% ropivacaine and determined the effects of the concentration of the solution injected on the motor block obtained. We enrolled into this prospective, randomized, double-blind, sequential allocation study 54 parturients undergoing elective Cesarean delivery under combined spinal-epidural technique. Parturients were randomized to receive intrathecal ropivacaine either 1% or 0.1%. The initial dose was chosen to be 4 mg, with subsequent doses being determined by the response of the previous patient (testing interval, 1 mg). The occurrence of any motor block in either lower limb within 5 min from the intrathecal injection of the study solution was considered effective. The motor block at 5 min was 6.1 mg for 1% ropivacaine (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.1-7.1) and was 9.1 mg (95% CI, 7.8-10.3) for 0.1% ropivacaine (P = 0.0013; 95% CI difference, 1.3-4.7). The relative efficacy ratio of the 2 concentrations was 1.5 (95% CI difference, 1.2-1.9) in favor of the larger concentration. The ED(50) of spinal ropivacaine to produce motor block in pregnant patients was significantly influenced by the concentration of the local anesthetic, with dose requirements being increased by 50% for the smaller concentration., Implications: The minimum local anesthetic dose for motor block with 0.1% ropivacaine is 50% larger than the 1% concentration with a relative efficacy ratio of 1.5. Our findings suggest that more diluted local anesthetic solutions determine less motor block, and this may be considered in ambulant laboring parturients.

New low-dose, local anesthetic-opioid combinations, combined spinal epidural analgesia, and new anesthetic drugs, such as ropivacaine and levobupivacaine, have modified the anesthetic practice in obstetric labor analgesia. These new analgesic techniques have less or no neonatal effects when compared with traditional epidural labor analgesia. They also have less effect on mode of delivery, which may in turn affect neonatal outcome. The use of very diluted or low concentrations of local anesthetic solutions may reduce their placental passage and thus the possible subtle neonatal effects. Small doses of epidural or spinal opioids alone or combined with low doses of local anesthetics does not affect the well-being of the neonate at birth. When considering the neonatal outcome, combined spinal epidural analgesia is as well tolerated as low-dose epidural analgesia. Transient fetal heart rate changes have been described immediately after the administration of intrathecal or epidural opioids. Maternal hypotension may also occur at the onset of epidural analgesia. Whether the occurrence of transient fetal heart rate changes or maternal hypotension immediately after the epidural block may influence the neonatal outcome at birth needs verification.

Unlabelled: In this study, we sought to determine the minimum analgesic doses and relative potencies of fentanyl and sufentanil when they are used as the sole epidural analgesic during the first stage of labor. Nulliparous parturients (n = 66) in spontaneous labor at term gestation and requesting epidural analgesia were enrolled into this prospective, double-blinded, randomized, sequential-allocation study. Each woman received fentanyl or sufentanil diluted with 0.9% wt/vol saline to a volume of 10 mL. The initial dose was arbitrarily chosen to be 125 microg for fentanyl and 25 microg for sufentanil, with subsequent doses being determined by the response of the previous patient (testing interval, 5 microg for fentanyl and 1 microg for sufentanil). Efficacy was accepted if the visual analog score decreased to < or =10 mm on a 100-mm scale within 30 min. The minimum analgesic dose or median effective dose was 21.1 microg (95% confidence interval [CI], 20.2-21.9 microg) for sufentanil and 124.2 microg (95% CI, 118.1-130.6 microg) for fentanyl (P < 0.0001). The sufentanil/fentanyl potency ratio was 5.9 (95% CI, 5.6-6.3). In conclusion, we have established the equivalent doses and relative potencies of fentanyl and sufentanil for epidural analgesia in the first stage of labor., Implications: This study determined the minimum analgesic doses of fentanyl and sufentanil for epidural anesthesia in the first stage of labor. The sufentanil/fentanyl potency ratio was 5.9. This ratio may be used to establish the equivalent doses for fentanyl and sufentanil for epidural analgesia in labor.

Fetal heart rate (FHR) changes occasionally follow the use of labor epidurals. Most studies of the phenomenon have focused on specific techniques, but similar timing and appearance suggest a common cause. Induction of analgesia may transiently alter the balance between factors encouraging and inhibiting uterine contractions with subsequent changes of FHR patterns. Regardless the etiology, these changes are transient and do not produce maternal or fetal morbidity. However, they must be promptly recognized and treated if necessary.

Methods: Published studies, including abstracts, has been reviewed and summarized., Results: Studies in sheep have demonstrated no significant differences in pharmacokinetic and placental transfer of levobuvacaine when compared with bupivacaine. Clinical studies on cesarean section confirmed similar performance between these two drugs. No differences in onset time, sensory and motor block and efficacy of analgesia have been reported. Two multicentre studies on labor analgesia reported again similar analgesic efficacy with a trend toward less motor block in parturients receiving levobupivacaine., Conclusions: This review has shown that levobupivacaine has a similar efficacy and a similar maternal fetal safety to that of bupivacaine. Further studies are needed to determine if the chemical properties of the new agent may influence the sensory and motor characteristics of the block.

All epidural or spinal techniques using local anaesthetics causes some degree of sympathetic blockade resulting in peripheral vasodilatation and possibly hypotension or reduction in cardiac output. In the practical clinic, administration of fluids intravenously prior spinal and epidural anaesthesia is required to prevent maternal hypotension and fetal hypoxia. We evaluated in this review the efficacy of volume preloading on the incidence of hypotension after spinal or epidural anaesthesia for caesarean delivery. Randomized controlled trials investigating volume preloading before the initiation of obstetric anaesthesia were sought by using MEDLINE (1966-2001). The primary outcome was the incidence of hypotension. Secondary outcomes included: ephedrine use, Apgar scores, umbilical cord pH values, and maternal nausea and vomiting. Crystalloid preload was inconsistent in preventing hypotension, whereas colloid appeared to be effective in all studies. A colloid solution, such as hydro-xyethyl starch (HES) might be preferable considering the capacity to stay intravasculary for a longer period. Few differences in fetal outcomes or maternal nausea and vomiting were reported. Increasing central blood volume by using colloid decreases the incidence of hypotension before loco-regional anaesthesia for cesarean delivery. Implications. We performed a review to determine whether fluid loading reduced the incidence of low blood pressure after spinal or epidural anaesthesia for caesarean delivery. Although no technique totally eliminates the occurrence of hypotension, colloid administration (starch or gelatin containing fluids) was the most effective.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the ED50 for the dose of levobupivacaine 0,5% that, if given intrathecally will not cause total spinal anesthesia but will give a reliable and reproducible clinical sign to differentiate intrathecal from epidural injection., Methods: Thirty women at term undergoing elective cesarean section under a combined spinal-epidural technique (CSE) were enrolled into this sequential allocation study. The dose in each test dose was determined by the response of the previous patient to the higher or lower dose in her test syringe, according to up-down sequential allocation. The exception to this was the first woman in each group, for whom the starting dose was chosen to be 4 mg. The end point was the occurrence of any motor block, in any side, within 5 minutes from intrathecal injection of the test dose. Test dose efficacy was assessed using a modified Bromage scale every minute for 5 minutes. The median effective dose of levobupivacaine was estimated from the up-down sequences using the formula of Dixon and Massey., Results: The MAD of the test dose for levobupivacaine was of 4,8 mg (4,4 to 5,2; 95% C.I.)., Discussions: This study may help to determine the appropriate dose for a test dose for inadvertent spinal levobupivacaine.

Recent researches in the field of regional anesthesia for cesarean section have focused on spinal anesthesia, including prophylaxis of maternal hypotension, the use of opioids to improve intra- and postoperative analgesia and the use of ropivacaine.

Background and Objectives: A number of clinical studies have been performed in an attempt to establish the effects of alkalinization on potency of local anesthetics. Conflicting results were obtained probably because different studies used different methods as well as different definitions of the effects. To determine the efficacy of alkalinization using different local anesthetic solutions and different regional blocks, 180 patients were studied in a randomized, double-blind fashion. The local anesthetic solutions studied were bupivacaine, mepivacaine, and lidocaine; the regional blocks studied were epidural block, axillary brachial plexus block, and femoral and sciatic nerve block., Materials and Methods: In this study, 180 patients receiving epidural block (n = 60), sciatic and femoral nerve block (n = 60), and brachial plexus block (n = 60) were randomized to receive, in a double-blind fashion, a plain or a pH-adjusted solution of 2% mepivacaine, 2% lidocaine, or 0.5% bupivacaine. Onset of sensory analgesia, onset of maximum effect (peak effect or complete analgesia), duration of the block, onset, duration and density of motor block were evaluated using pinprick (Hollmen scale) and a 10-point decimal scale (Seow scale)., Results: concerning epidural block, the alkalinization of the local anesthetic shortened significantly the onset of sensory analgesia in the dermatome corresponding to the lumbar interspace used for epidural puncture (L3-L4) and increased the spread of the epidural block in all the groups. The onset of sensory analgesia at L4 level ranged from 10 minutes for plain bupivacaine to 3 minutes for alkalinized lidocaine, whereas the onset at T10 level ranged from 16 minutes for plain bupivacaine and mepivacaine to 12.3 minutes for alkalinized lidocaine. The effects of alkalinization were more evident with lidocaine and bupivacaine. Concerning femoral and sciatic nerve blocks, a statistically significant shorter onset of sensory analgesia and motor block were observed with mepivacaine. Concerning brachial plexus axillary block, the effects of alkalinization were more evident with lidocaine., Conclusions: Alkalinization produced the best results with lidocaine and bupivacaine for epidural block, with lidocaine for brachial plexus block, and with mepivacaine for sciatic and femoral nerve blocks.

Background and Objectives: The randomized, double-blind, dose-response study was designed to evaluate the effects of the addition of clonidine to epidural morphine on postoperative analgesia and side effects in patients undergoing cesarean delivery., Methods: Sixty patients, undergoing cesarean delivery under epidural anesthesia, were randomly divided in three equal groups to receive, at the end of surgery, an epidural analgesic mixture consisting of 10 mL solution containing 2 mg of morphine diluted with 0.125% bupivacaine plus 1:800,000 epinephrine and 0, 75, or 150 micrograms of clonidine. Duration of analgesia was assessed as the pain-free interval between the end of surgery and patient's first analgesic request. The analgesic mixture was repeated, on patient's request, to 36 hours after the operation. Arterial blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and side effects were noted. The total amount of morphine and clonidine delivered was also noted., Results: The addition of clonidine (0, 75, or 150 micrograms) to morphine significantly increased the duration of postoperative analgesia (P < .0001) (6.27 versus 13.25 and versus 21.55 hours) and reduced the mean total dose of morphine (9.40 mg versus 5.0 mg versus 3.60 mg) (P < .0001). No significant differences in side effects were noted., Conclusions: A low dose of clonidine such as 75 micrograms doubled the duration of analgesia produced by 2 mg of morphine and a dose of 150 micrograms further increased the duration of postoperative complete analgesia without increasing the incidence of side effects. The morphine requirements during the postoperative period (36 hours) was greatly reduced by the addition of clonidine to the analgesic epidural mixture.

Background and Objectives: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of puncture of lumbar dura mater with needles of different sizes and with bevels of different shapes., Methods: After removal, the dura was punctured with different needles (22-, 25-, 27-, and 29-gauge Quincke, 24-gauge Sprotte, 22-gauge Whitacre, and 18-gauge Tuohy needles) and observed by stereomicroscope to examine the gross morphology. Histologic features were observed by light microscope using frozen and fixed samples stained with hematoxylin and eosin or specific methods (Masson and Weigert) to evidence elastic or collagen fibers., Results: Puncture hole size was proportional to the size of the needle used. Quincke type needles determined oval or ellipsoidal holes; pencil-point needles determined more rounded holes. Dural retraction determined a reduction of the holes in all cases. Histologic examination revealed an irregular border of the hole, with sectioned as well as compressed fibers. The pattern of compressed but not sectioned fibers was observed more frequently in the samples punctured by pencil-point needles., Conclusions: This study confirms that the arrangement of dural fibers is not as uniform as previously thought. Histologic findings confirm the current opinion that pencil-point needles may be less traumatic than Quincke-type needles. The direction of the bevel of the needle does not appear to have great importance in determining the shape of the hole.

This double-blind randomized study of 116 healthy women was undertaken to evaluate whether alkalinization potentiated the analgesic effects of epidural fentanyl-lidocaine for elective Caesarean section. After a test-dose of 3 ml, lidocaine 2% with adrenaline 1:200,000, all patients received 100 micrograms, fentanyl in 5 ml saline and they were then divided into two groups, to receive incremental doses of 5 ml lidocaine 2% with adrenaline 1:200,000 with or without 0.1 mEq.ml-1 sodium bicarbonate, to obtain anaesthesia to T4. The addition of bicarbonate to lidocaine resulted in a mean (SD) pH increase from 6.58 (0.01) to 7.14 (0.02) and in a mean PCO2 increase from 3.8 (0.8) to 345.1 (5.9) mmHg. Onset of sensory analgesia to the S1 segment as well as the interval between the block and the delivery of the baby were shorter in the bicarbonate group (respectively 15.4 (6.9) vs 18.9 (4.8) min and 28.9 (9.5) versus 33.9 (11.8) min; P < 0.01 and 0.05). No differences were noted in the onset to T4 or in the degree of motor block. The percentage of patients experiencing pain during surgery and requiring intravenous analgesics was higher in the group which did not receive bicarbonate (3% vs 16%; P < 0.05). There were no differences in intraoperative maternal side-effects, neonatal outcome or in maternal venous and umbilical venous and arterial lidocaine concentrations between the groups. The concentrations of fentanyl in maternal plasma, umbilical artery, and the umbilical artery to maternal vein ratio were greater in the alkalinized group (P < 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Study Objective: To determine the clinical effects of the alkalinization of 2% mepivacaine with epinephrine used for epidural block during cesarean section., Design: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled (standard commercial preparation of 2% mepivacaine with epinephrine) study., Setting: Inpatient obstetric department at a general hospital., Patients: Seventy patients scheduled for elective cesarean section under epidural anesthesia., Interventions: Two groups of 35 patients each receiving either the standard commercial preparation of mepivacaine or the pH-adjusted solution (prepared with the addition of 0.1 meq/ml of sodium bicarbonate to the standard commercial solution)., Measurements and Main Results: Measurements of sensory (pinprick) and motor (Bromage's criteria) block were taken at 1- to 2-minute intervals beginning after the completion of the epidural injection. Increasing the pH of the mepivacaine resulted in a significant shortening of the time of analgesia onset (9.3 minutes compared with 16.01 minutes, p less than 0.01) and of peak effect (11.1 minutes compared with 21.2 minutes, p less than 0.01). The alkalinization did not affect duration of the block, intensity of motor block, or mean dose of local anesthetic used., Conclusion: The alkalinization allowed the surgery to proceed more rapidly, significantly decreasing the time interval between epidural block and delivery of the infant.

Twenty eight elderly patients scheduled for urologic surgery were randomly assigned to receive in a double blind fashion subarachnoid hyperbaric bupivacaine 15 mg with the addition of 50 micrograms (group A, n = 7), 25 micrograms (group B, n = 7), 12.5 micrograms (group C, n = 7), of fentanyl or 1 ml of saline (group D, n = 7) for a total volume of 4 ml. The pattern of breathing and the ventilatory response to CO2 were studied before 90, 150, 480 minutes after the subarachnoid injection. In group A mild pruritus and sedation occurred in 5 patients, nausea, vomiting and periodic breathing occurred in 2 patients. In group B mild pruritus and sedation were observed in 4 patients, nausea, vomiting in 2 patients. No significant changes in VE, Vt/Ti and Ti/Ttot were observed between the groups. Patients receiving 50 micrograms of fentanyl showed a slope VE/PET CO2 significantly below baseline values at 90 and 150 minutes (p less than 0.05). In this group the baseline values were restored after 480 minutes. No side effects were observed in group C and D. 25 micrograms fo fentanyl is the only dose with a significant analgesic effect without any respiratory depression.

A randomized, double-blind study was designed to determine the effects on maternal intraoperative analgesia of adding one of the following opioids to the local anesthetic at the onset of epidural block, before surgery and neonatal delivery: morphine (3 mg), fentanyl (75 micrograms), sufentanil (50 micrograms), buprenorphine (0.3 mg) and oxymorphone (1 mg). The duration of postoperative analgesia, the presence of side effects and the neonatal outcome were also studied. Ninety healthy multiparas, at term, undergoing elective cesarean delivery using lumbar epidural anesthesia with 2% lidocaine were randomized in six equal groups to receive one of the opioids or saline. The predelivery administration of morphine, fentanyl and sufentanil significantly improved the intraoperative analgesia. Patients who received fentanyl, sufentanil, buprenorphine or oxymorphone had more somnolence than the others (p less than 0.01), but this did not interfere with the first mother-infant relationship during surgery. Patients in the buprenorphine group had more vomiting during surgery when compared with the others (p less than 0.01). Morphine provided the longest pain-free interval, followed by oxymorphone, buprenorphine, sufentanil and fentanyl. Postoperatively, the number of patients having pruritus and vomiting was significantly higher in the morphine and buprenorphine groups, respectively (p less than 0.01 versus others). No adverse neonatal effects were noted in any group.

Two-hundred men, scheduled for elective meniscectomy under epidural anesthesia, were randomly assigned to receive either a standard 2% mepivacaine solution (n = 100) or a pH adjusted 2% mepivacaine solution (pHAS, n = 100). The pHAS was freshly prepared before the block by adding 0.1 mEq of NaHCO3 per ml of mepivacaine solution. After a test-dose, the anesthetic solution was injected to produce a level of sensory anesthesia to T10. The mean duration of anesthesia and the mean dose of mepivacaine used were comparable between the groups. Patients in the pHAS group showed a significant shortening of onset time in T10 and in S2 segment (p less than .001). Grade 3 motor blockade was achieved in the same number of patients, but a faster motor block was observed in the pHAS group (p less than .05). Regression of both sensory and motor blockade in the two groups was not significantly different.

This study was designed to evaluate the maternal intraoperative and postoperative analgesia and neonatal effects of adding sufentanil to epidural anesthesia for cesarean section before the skin incision. Forty-five multipara were randomized in three equal groups to receive sufentanil 80 micrograms, 50 micrograms, or saline with the epidural lidocaine. Intraoperative and postoperative analgesia and side effects were recorded. Infants were evaluated by Apgar score at one and five minutes and by Neurologic and Adaptive Capacity Score and Early Neonatal Neurobehavioral Scale at one, four and 24 hours of life. Superior analgesia, with no intraoperative requirements for supplemental narcotics, was obtained when either 80 micrograms or 50 micrograms sufentanil were added to lidocaine. Postoperative analgesia was prolonged after sufentanil, but side effects increased with the greater dose. The infants whose mothers received 80 micrograms sufentanil showed a mild neurobehavioral depression. It is therefore concluded that the addition of 50 micrograms of sufentanil improves both intraoperative and postoperative analgesia without significant neonatal effects.

Ninety-five healthy nulliparous women, ASA physical status I-II with an uncomplicated pregnancy and single fetus in vertex position were given lumbar epidural analgesia. Patients in Group A (n = 35) received bupivacaine 0.125 per cent with epinephrine 1:800.000; Groups B (n = 30) and C (n = 30) received the same agents as Group A but with the addition to the initial dose of 50 or 100 micrograms of fentanyl respectively. All patients were evaluated for duration and quality of analgesia, duration of labour, method of delivery and total dose of bupivacaine used. The addition of either 50 or 100 micrograms of fentanyl resulted in longer duration of analgesia (93 +/- 9 min and 106 +/- 8 min respectively vs 55 +/- 7) and reduced bupivacaine total doses (64 +/- 0.03 and 55 +/- 1.5 respectively vs 109.5 +/- 1.3). Only the addition of 100 micrograms of fentanyl improved significantly the quality of analgesia (43.3 per cent of excellent scores vs 6.6 per cent in Group B and 5.7 per cent in Group A). Addition of fentanyl did not affect the duration of labour, the method of delivery and the neonatal neurobehaviour scores.

A new type of 10% lipidic emulsion based on safflower oil and soya (Liposyn II, Abbott, Latina) characterised by a high linoleic/linolenic acid ratio was administered in random, double blind fashion with 10% Intralipid to 20 subjects submitted to major surgery of the digestive system. Dosage was 1.2 g/kg at an infusion rate of 2.6 ml/kg/h. In order to evidence possible in vivo inter-reactions between proteins of the acute post-aggressive phase and these emulsions, serial samples were used to measure haemogasanalytic parameters, plasma levels of triglycerides and serum levels of protein C-reactive and fourth complement factor. Both emulsions proved well tolerated and there was no evidence of general or administrative site reactions. The plasma levels of triglycerides underwent an increase during the test, with no significant differences between the two groups of patients. Notwithstanding the high serum levels of protein C-reactive of the subjects in question, there was no evidence of activation of the complement system nor alteration in haemogasanalytic parameters with the two lipidic emulsions adopted.

A double blind comparison between morphine and buprenorphine was performed in 20 patients using a new demand and continuous infusion analgesic system to provide analgesia after cesarean section. The patients were randomized in two equal groups to receive either morphine 1 mg/h or buprenorphine 0.03 mg/h. The PCA system was set to deliver bolus of either morphine 1 mg or buprenorphine 0.03 mg, with a lockout interval of 10 and 15 min respectively. A loading dose of morphine 5 mg or buprenorphine 0.15 mg was given if necessary. The quality of analgesia, assessed by a visual analogue and a subjective scale was good with both drugs. No difference in side effects between the groups was observed. The mean potency ratio between buprenorphine and morphine was 32:1. Patients receiving buprenorphine showed a more prolonged analgesia and a significant improvement of sedation score.