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Background The objective of this study was to develop a consensus-based algorithm for the management of the unanticipated difficult airway in obstetrics, and to use this algorithm for the assessment of anesthesia residents' performance during high-fidelity simulation. Methods An algorithm for unanticipated difficult airway in obstetrics, outlining the management of six generic clinical situations of "can and cannot ventilate" possibilities in three clinical contexts: elective cesarean section, emergency cesarean section for fetal distress, and emergency cesarean section for maternal distress, was used to create a critical skills checklist. The authors used four of these scenarios for high-fidelity simulation for residents. Their critical and crisis resource management skills were assessed independently by three raters using their checklist and the Ottawa Global rating scale. Results Sixteen residents participated. The checklist scores ranged from 64-80% and improved from scenario 1 to 4. Overall Global rating scale scores were marginal and not significantly different between scenarios. The intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.69 (95% CI: 0.58, 0.78) represents a good interrater reliability for the checklist. Multiple critical errors were identified, the most common being not calling for help or a difficult airway cart. Conclusions Aside from identifying common critical errors, the authors noted that the residents' performance was poorest in two of our scenarios: "fetal distress and cannot intubate, cannot ventilate" and "maternal distress and cannot intubate, but can ventilate." More teaching emphasis may be warranted to avoid commonly identified critical errors and to improve overall management. Our study also suggests a potential for experiential learning with successive simulations.

A case of postoperative epidural hematoma with an atypical presentation and an excellent outcome in an 80 year-old woman who received both prophylactic aspirin and enoxaparin following a primary total knee arthroplasty, is presented. She developed lower limb neurological symptoms, fully recovered, and then deteriorated again. The hematoma was surgically evacuated, resulting in full neurological recovery. Epidural analgesia may not be the best choice for pain management in patients who require the combined use of aspirin and low-molecular weight heparin postoperatively.

To compare intraoperative complications of exteriorized and in situ uterine repair during elective cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia.This study was a randomized, single-blinded trial in 80 women undergoing elective cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia. Patients were randomly assigned to exteriorized or in situ uterine repair. Obstetricians were asked to perform assisted delivery of the placenta. Spinal anesthesia and oxytocin management were standardized. Phenylephrine was used to maintain systolic blood pressure within 10% of the baseline. The primary outcome was intraoperative, postdelivery nausea or vomiting.Postdelivery nausea or vomiting (18% compared with 38%; P=.04) and tachycardia (3% compared with 18%; P=.03) were significantly reduced in the in situ group compared with the exteriorized group. The duration of uterine repair was significantly shorter in the exteriorized group (median 10 minutes [first and third quartiles 9, 13], compared with 11 minutes [9, 15]) (P=.04). The duration of surgery (36 minutes [30, 41] compared with 37 minutes [30, 45]) and estimated blood loss (mean+/-standard deviation 625+/-489 mL compared with 653+/-416 mL) were similar between the in situ and the exteriorized groups. There was no correlation between duration of uterine repair and estimated blood loss.Exteriorization of the uterus for repair is associated with an increased incidence of nausea and vomiting and tachycardia during cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia. Uterine repair should be done in situ where possible.ClinicalTrials.gov, www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT00452972I.

Baricity is an important determinant of block characteristics of the spinal component of a combined spinal epidural (CSE) for labour analgesia. This study compares the analgesic efficacy and side effects of intrathecally administered plain and hyperbaric bupivacaine (both with fentanyl) during active labour. Sixty-two women in active labour (cervical dilatation >- 5 cm and pain score > 5) were randomized in a prospective, single-blinded fashion to receive 2.5 mg of either hyperbaric or plain bupivacaine both combined with 15 μg of fentanyl as the spinal component of a CSE. The primary outcome was failure of satisfactory analgesia within ten minutes of the intrathecal injection as defined by a verbal pain score > 3. Secondary outcomes included need for rescue analgesia, hypotension, respiratory depression, nausea and vomiting, pruritus and sustained fetal bradycardia. Sixty patients were analyzed. The failure rates were 20% in the hyperbaric groupvs 0% in the plain group (P = 0.024). The plain solution provided faster onset, higher sensory levels and less motor block at all times during the first 30 min. The incidence of both pruritus and sustained fetal bradycardia was 33% in the plain group and 10% in the hyperbaric group (P = 0.03). A plain rather than hyperbaric solution of bupivacaine 2.5 mg with fentanyl 15 μg provides a faster onset of analgesia, higher sensory levels and less motor block, while demonstrating an increased incidence of pruritus and sustained fetal bradycardia.

We sought to determine the incidence, etiology, characteristics and risk factors for all headaches in the first week postpartum.This was a prospective cohort study of 985 women delivering over a three-month period in a single tertiary-care institution. These women underwent a structured interview and follow-up to collect demographic data and to assess for the presence and characteristics of postpartum headache (PPHa) or neck/shoulder pain. All headaches were diagnosed using an algorithm based on the diagnostic criteria of the International Headache Society. Multivariate analysis was used to examine possible risk factors.Three hundred eighty-one of the 985 study participants (39%) reported headaches or neck/shoulder pain during the study period. The median time to onset of the PPHa was two days (0, 6; 1st and 3rd quartiles) and duration was four hours (2, 24; 1st and 3rd quartiles). Primary headaches accounted for75% of PPHa. Only a small number of headaches (4%) were incapacitating. Postdural puncture headache accounted for 4.7% of all PPHa. Significant risk factors for the development of PPHa were: known inadvertent dural puncture [odds ratio (OR)adj = 6.36; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.29, 31.24]; previous headache history (1-12/yr-OR(adj) = 1.57; 95% CI 1.01, 2.44;12/yr-OR(adj) = 2.25; 95% CI 1.63, 3.11); multiparity (OR(adj) = 1.37; 95% CI 1.03, 1.82) and increasing age (OR(adj) = 1.03/yr; 95% CI 1.00, 1.06).Postpartum headaches are common, often first noted after discharge from hospital. The majority are related to primary headache disorders. Increased awareness of this epidemiological relationship and improved diagnosis of primary headache conditions may lead to improved headache-specific therapy and avoidance of unnecessary investigations or read-mission to hospital.

To describe the anesthetic management of two cases of amniotic fluid embolus (AFE) and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) who underwent bilateral uterine artery embolization to control their postpartum hemorrhage. We report the clinical course and management of two women who suffered sudden cardiorespiratory events during labour. The first patient had a cardiac arrest whereas the second developed respiratory failure and altered neurological status. They were diagnosed as having had an AFE. Both of these events were accompanied by severe postpartum hemorrhage and DIC. They suffered prolonged bleeding and received massive transfusions. Successful management of hemorrhage was optimized by uterine artery embolization, thus avoiding ongoing problems with bleeding and possible hysterectomy. The role of uterine artery embolization is described, along with its advantages and anesthetic considerations. Women with severe postpartum hemorrhage, with or without DIC, should be considered for uterine artery embolization.

Pregnancy alters the anatomic landmarks for internal jugular vein (IJV) cannulation. In this study, IJV cannulation was simulated, and success of the technique was evaluated using ultrasound. Term pregnant women and non-pregnant female volunteers were recruited. The degree of difficulty in assessing neck anatomy was noted. The optimal insertion points for cannulation were marked on the skin of each subject according to the central landmark and palpatory techniques. The midpoint of a 15-10 MHz linear transducer was placed over each insertion point, and the vertical cursor of the ultrasound, which represented the path of the needle, was placed in the image. The outcome was an IJV puncture, a carotid artery (CA) puncture, or a missed attempt. One hundred and sixty-one women, 99 pregnant and 62 non-pregnant, were studied. The identification of landmarks was more difficult in pregnant women (P = 0.01). The rates of successful IJV punctures, CA punctures, and missed attempts did not differ significantly between pregnant and non-pregnant women. Carotid artery punctures using the central landmark technique in pregnant and non-pregnant subjects were 19% and 10%, respectively. Corresponding figures for the palpatory approach were 6% and 3%, respectively. The degree of IJV overlap of the CA in the palpatory technique was greater in pregnant women (38% vs 18% showed > 75% overlap; P

Although maternal mortality resulting from anesthesia is declining, airway causes predominate. Although there are many physiologic and nonphysiologic factors that contribute to potential difficulties when intubating parturients, whether or not the maternal airway is more difficult anatomically continues to be debatable. What is more certain, however, is that the situation is more complex than other settings. Vigilance, avoidance, and preparation continue to be key to management. In cases of unexpected difficulty, which likely are unavoidable, several rescue devices may be helpful.

BACKGROUND: The relative risk of intracerebral hemorrhage during pregnancy and 6 weeks postpartum is higher than that of the nongravid population. CASE: A 37-year-old multiparous, previously healthy woman appeared to have had a seizure on emergence from general anesthesia for cesarean delivery. Subsequent neuro-imaging revealed a giant unruptured internal carotid artery aneurysm. The day after discharge from the hospital, with planned outpatient neurosurgery follow-up, she re-presented with a subarachnoid hemorrhage. This ultimately resulted in her death. CONCLUSION: Given the significant morbidity and mortality associated with cerebral aneurysms in pregnancy, they should be considered in all cases of acute neurological deterioration. Also, given the increased risk of aneurysmal rupture in the gravid patient, expedited management of newly discovered cerebral aneurysms should be contemplated.

To report the anesthetic management of a patient with carnitine palmitoyltransferase II deficiency who presented for labour and delivery.A 30-yr-old primiparous woman with known carnitine palmitoyltransferase II deficiency and a past history of exercise induced muscle pain, weakness and myoglobinuria presented in active labour. Management consisted of an early epidural for labour and continuous dextrose infusion with frequent blood sugar monitoring. She had an uneventful spontaneous vaginal delivery. She experienced a single asymptomatic episode of hypoglycemia on the first postpartum day. Her serum creatine kinase was six times normal at 24 hr post-delivery and remained elevated for three days without evidence of rhabdomyolysis. The remainder of her postpartum course was uneventful.Labour and delivery is a potential precipitant of rhabdomyolysis in patients with carnitine palmitoyltransferase II deficiency. The normal postpartum creatine kinase elevation (two to four times baseline at 24 hr) must be taken into account when monitoring these patients. On the basis of the physiologic principles, institution of early epidural analgesia to blunt the stress response to labour and delivery, continuous dextrose infusion and frequent glucose monitoring during labour and postpartum are the mainstays of management.

The objective of this study was to develop a consensus-based algorithm for the management of the unanticipated difficult airway in obstetrics, and to use this algorithm for the assessment of anesthesia residents' performance during high-fidelity simulation.An algorithm for unanticipated difficult airway in obstetrics, outlining the management of six generic clinical situations of "can and cannot ventilate" possibilities in three clinical contexts: elective cesarean section, emergency cesarean section for fetal distress, and emergency cesarean section for maternal distress, was used to create a critical skills checklist. The authors used four of these scenarios for high-fidelity simulation for residents. Their critical and crisis resource management skills were assessed independently by three raters using their checklist and the Ottawa Global rating scale.Sixteen residents participated. The checklist scores ranged from 64-80% and improved from scenario 1 to 4. Overall Global rating scale scores were marginal and not significantly different between scenarios. The intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.69 (95% CI: 0.58, 0.78) represents a good interrater reliability for the checklist. Multiple critical errors were identified, the most common being not calling for help or a difficult airway cart.Aside from identifying common critical errors, the authors noted that the residents' performance was poorest in two of our scenarios: "fetal distress and cannot intubate, cannot ventilate" and "maternal distress and cannot intubate, but can ventilate." More teaching emphasis may be warranted to avoid commonly identified critical errors and to improve overall management. Our study also suggests a potential for experiential learning with successive simulations.

It is not uncommon in North America to exteriorize the uterus for repair following elective cesarean delivery. Proponents believe that it offers better exposure and easier, more rapid repair. Adverse outcomes have, however, been described, including nausea/vomiting, pain, hemodynamic changes, and air embolism. This prospective, randomized, single-blinded trial enrolled 80 healthy women at term who underwent elective cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia. Participating obstetricians were asked to perform assisted delivery of the placenta. Both spinal anesthesia and oxytocin infusion were standardized, and phenylephrine was used to maintain systolic blood pressure within 10% of the baseline value. The 2 surgical groups were demographically similar in most respects. Women having exteriorized uterine repair had significantly more postdelivery nausea or vomiting than those undergoing in situ repair (odds ratio [OR], 2.95; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-8.34). The risk of tachycardia also was elevated in the exteriorized group (OR, 8.53; 95% CI, 0.99-394.1). Both pain and hypotension were more frequent in the exteriorized group, but not to a significant degree. In the exteriorized group, complications tended to occur during uterine repair, immediately after exteriorization, and again when the uterus was repositioned. In contrast, complications of in situ repair typically occurred during the repair. Repair took less time in the exteriorized group, but there were no significant differences in the duration of surgery overall or in estimated blood loss. The duration of uterine repair or surgery could not be related to estimated blood loss. The researchers concluded from these findings that, unless there is a surgical reason to exteriorize the uterus for repair following cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia, the repair should be performed in situ.