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Obstetrical Anesthesia Clerks2007
Obstetrical Anesthesia Clerks2007
NNUH
Objectives
Nociceptive pathways
involved
T10 – L1 during
labor
plus
S2-S4 for delivery
Is pain bad in labor?
Altered physiology
Altered response to anesthesia
– Decrease in MAC
– Increased sensitivity to neuraxial agents
– Decreased plasma cholinesterase
– Decreased protein binding (more free
drug)
– Limited drug information in parturients
Fetal Considerations
Teratogenicity:
– Limited information due to impracticality
of conducting trials with sufficient power
– Guidelines based on a) effects on
reproduction in animals; b)
epidemiological surveys of OR personnel;
c) studies of pregnancy outcomes in
parturient undergoing ante partum
surgery
Nitrous oxide has been shown to have a
teratogenic effect in rats during the first
trimester
No anesthetic agent is a proven teratogen in
humans
Anesthetic agents deemed safe include:
thiopental,morphine, meperidine,fentanyl,
succinylcholine, NDMRs
Limiting nitrous oxide use but only if
hypotension secondary to volatiles can be
avoided
Anesthetic management in the
parturient should be directed to:
– Avoidance of hypoxemia
– Avoidance of hypotension
– Avoidance of acidosis
– Maintain PaCO2 in the normal range for
the parturient
– Minimize effects of aortocaval
compression
Anesthesia for Caesarean
Section
Preparation
Preventing complications
Choice of Anesthetic technique
Effects on the fetus
Preparation
Premeds: antacid (sodium citrate)
IV access and fluid bolus within 30 minutes
of operating (avoid glucose containing
fluids)
Left lateral tilt with wedge under right pelvis
Routine Monitors: ECG, NIBP, pulse
oximeter, fetal monitoring
Additional monitors for GAs: ETCO2, nerve
stimulator, temp probe
Preventing complications
Aspiration prophylaxis
Detailed airway assessment
Fluid resuscitation/left lateral tilt to
prevent hypotension
Safe practice for placement of
neuraxial blocks
Anesthetic techniques
Rarely performed
Patient usually in extremis
Surgery must be done via midline
incision, gentle retraction, no
exteriorization of the uterus
Usually done to supplement a regional
technique if local anesthetic toxicity
not a concern
Regional: Spinal
Anesthesia
Simple to perform
Rapid onset
Single shot technique
Profound neural block
Technique of choice for uncomplicated
elective caesarean sections and in many
emergency caesarean sections
Spinal Anesthesia
Potential Complications:
– Hypotension
– Headache (rare ~1:100)
– Backache (temporary ~24hrs)
– Nausea/vomiting (secondary to BP,
narcotics)
– Neurological damage (very rare)
– Anaphylaxis (very rare)
Regional: Epidural
Anesthesia
More technically challenging
Slower onset
Used when already placed for labor
analgesia
Useful in parturient where a slow,
controlled onset of block is needed
Allows prolongation of block should
surgery be complicated
Epidural Anesthesia
Potential Complications:
– Hypotension
– Headache (approx 1:100)
– Transient backache ~24hrs
– Urinary retention
– Unintentional spinal injection
– Intravascular injection of local anesthetic
– Neurological damage
– Infection
Regional: Combined
spinal-epidural
Used when require the speed and
density of a spinal anesthetic with the
flexibility of prolonging the block by
supplemental increments of local
anesthesia via the epidural catheter
Complications: as mentioned for
spinals and epidurals
General Anesthesia
Used when
– Patient refuses regional technique
– Regional technique is contraindicated
– Emergency C/S when there is
inadequate/absent regional analgesia
and to delay will cause undue risk to the
fetus / mother
General Anesthesia
Complications:
– Failed intubation
– Failed ventilation causing death or
neurological injury
– Awareness
– Aspiration pneumonia
Anesthesia: Effects on the
fetus
Avoid hypotension, hypoxia, acidosis,
hyperventilation
Limit time between uterine incision and
delivery to less than 3 minutes
Infants exposed to GA have lower Apgar at
one minute but no difference at 5 mins
No significant alteration in neurobehavioral
scores with regional techniques
MCQ 1. Epidural Anesthesia in
Obstetric Practice. Which of the
following is false.
A. Commonly causes itching
B. Can be used to control blood
pressure in pre-eclampsia
C. Causes uterine relaxation
D. Causes urinary retention
E. Contributes to the effects of
aortocaval compression
MCQ 1. Epidural Anesthesia in
Obstetric Practice…