Understanding contributing factors to exoskeleton use-intention in construction: a decision tree approach using results from an online survey.

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are a major health concern in the construction industry. Occupational exoskeletons (EXOs) are a promising ergonomic intervention to help reduce WMSD risk. Their adoption, however, has been low in construction. To understand the contributing factors to EXO use-intention and assist in future decision-making, we built decision trees to predict responses to each of three EXO use-intention questions (Try, Voluntary Use, and Behavioural Intention), using online survey responses. Variable selection and hyperparameter tuning were used respectively to reduce the number of potential predictors and improve prediction performance. The importance of variables in each final tree was calculated to understand which variables had a greater influence. The final trees had moderate prediction performance. The root node of each tree included EXOs becoming standard equipment, fatigue reduction, or performance increase. Important variables were found to be quite specific to different decision trees. Practical implications of the findings are discussed.Practitioner summary: This study used decision trees to identify key factors influencing the use-intention of occupational exoskeletons (EXOs) in construction, using online survey data. Key factors identified included EXOs becoming standard equipment, fatigue reduction, and performance improvement. Final trees provide intuitive visual representations of the decision-making process for workers to use EXOs.

Marijuana During Labour: A Survey of Maternal Opinions.

OBJECTIVE: There is increasing use of marijuana during pregnancy, and online accounts indicate that women are considering use of marijuana for labour pain. However, the number and attitudes of women who would consider this are unknown. METHODS: In a university hospital, over a period of 1 month, a total of 132 women with vaginal deliveries completed a survey exploring attitudes towards labour analgesia and marijuana use. Patients who would and would not consider marijuana for labour pain were compared using chi-square analysis. RESULTS: The percentages of respondents who reported having epidural or intravenous analgesia were 83% (95% confidence interval [CI] 76-89) and 30% (95% CI 23-38), respectively, with 87% (95% CI 79-92) and 86% (95% CI 71-94) being satisfied. However, 34% (95% CI 26-43) of the respondents reported that they would consider the use of marijuana for labour pain. Of these, 25% (95% CI 14-41) had previously used marijuana for pain compared with 0% (95% CI 0-0) who had not, and 72% (95% CI 56-84) thought it acceptable to use marijuana non-medically compared with 35% (95% CI 26-47) who did not (P < 0.001 for both). The greatest worry was the effect of marijuana on the baby, with 26% (95% CI 19-34) being highly worried and 26% (95% CI 19-34) being extremely worried. Many women (60%; 95% CI 51-68) indicated a lack of knowledge of the side effects of marijuana in labour. However, 59% (95% CI 50-67) of respondents said they would feel comfortable discussing this topic with their obstetrician. CONCLUSION: One third of women would consider the use of marijuana for labour pain, although many are unsure of its effects. Most women would feel comfortable discussing this topic with their obstetrician.

A Triple-Blind Randomized Trial of Preemptive Use of Gabapentin Before Laparoscopic Hysterectomy for Benign Gynaecologic Conditions.

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to examine the efficacy of preemptive use of gabapentin in laparoscopic hysterectomy for benign gynaecologic conditions. METHODS: In a triple-blind trial, the study investigators randomly assigned women undergoing laparoscopic hysterectomy to receive 600 mg gabapentin (n = 43) or placebo (n = 45) orally 1 hour before the procedure. Patient-controlled opioid analgesia was provided postoperatively. The primary outcome of the trial was cumulative opioid consumption in the first postoperative 24 hours. The study also assessed pain at rest and on movement, the presence of side effects, and patient satisfaction at 2, 8, and 24 hours after surgery. RESULTS: Between March 10, 2016 and May 1, 2018, 215 women were assessed for eligibility, 110 were randomized, and 88 completed the study. Enrolment was started after trial registration. The investigators found no difference in 24-hour cumulative morphine equivalent opioid consumption between the gabapentin group (26.9 ± 14.7 mg) and the placebo group (27.1 ± 15.1 mg). This provided a mean difference of 0.2 mg (95% CI -6.1 to 6.5, P = 0.943). Pain scores at 2, 8, and 24 hours were also not found to differ between groups. Gabapentin was associated with increased dizziness, but it significantly reduced the use of antiemetic at any time in the first 24 postoperative hours. Patient satisfaction in the two groups was good and not found to differ. CONCLUSION: Preemptive administration of gabapentin before laparoscopic hysterectomy does not decrease postoperative pain scores and narcotic consumption.

Awake videolaryngoscopy versus fiberoptic bronchoscopy.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The difficult airway remains an ongoing concern in daily anesthesia practice, with awake intubation being an important component of its management. Classically, fiberoptic bronchoscope-assisted tracheal intubation was the method of choice in the awake patient. The development of new generation videolaryngoscopes has revolutionized the approach to tracheal intubation in the anesthetized patient. The question whether videolaryngoscopes have a place in the intubation of the difficult airway in the awake patient is currently being addressed. RECENT FINDINGS: Randomized controlled trials and their meta-analysis have shown that videolaryngoscopes provide similar success rates and faster intubation times when compared with fiberoptic bronchoscope intubation in awake patients with difficult airways. SUMMARY: Videolaryngoscopy is a valid technique that should be considered for difficult airway management in the awake patient.

The Labor Analgesia Requirements in Nulliparous Women Randomized to Epidural Catheter Placement in a High or Low Intervertebral Space.

BACKGROUND: We hypothesized that an epidural catheter placed in a lower vertebral interspace will require less medication for labor analgesia. METHODS: Nulliparous women requesting neuraxial labor analgesia were randomized to epidural catheter placement at the ultrasound-confirmed L1-2 or L4-5 interspace. Patient-controlled epidural analgesia and breakthrough manual epidural boluses of 10 mL of 0.125% bupivacaine with 50 µg of fentanyl or 8 mL of 2% lidocaine were utilized. Abdominal and perineal pain scores were assessed at 30 and 60 minutes after standardized initiation of epidural analgesia. Pain scores during pushing were assessed after delivery. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients requiring manual boluses and was compared using a χ test. Secondarily, we analyzed the number of boluses given in early (up to 4 hours before delivery) versus late labor using χ tests and the pain scores using Mann-Whitney U tests, with adjustment of P values for multiple testing. RESULTS: We analyzed 148 patients. Overall, the percentage of patients in the low versus high groups who required manual boluses was 46% vs 51% (P = 1.0). For the 56 patients in each group who delivered vaginally, 22 (52%) vs 20 (48%) manual boluses were given to the low epidural group in early versus late labor, compared to 9 (20%) vs 36 (80%) in the high epidural group (P = .014). There was no statistical difference in patient-controlled epidural analgesia requirements or patient satisfaction. Comparing the low versus high groups, the median (interquartile range) pain scores were: 3 (1, 6) vs 0 (0, 2) (P = .013) at 30 minutes and 1 (1, 3) vs 0 (0, 1) (P = .013) at 60 minutes for abdominal pain; 0 (0, 2) vs 1 (1, 3) (P = .36) and 0 (0, 1) vs 1 (1, 3) (P = .014) at these same time points for perineal pain; and 1 (0, 5) vs 0 (0, 3) (P = .9) for abdominal and 2 (0, 5) vs 4 (1, 8) (P = .025) for perineal pain during pushing. The percentage of patients who underwent instrumental delivery was 15% vs 5% (P = .06) for the low versus high group. CONCLUSIONS: An L4-5 epidural catheter initially provides less relief of abdominal pain but more relief of perineal labor pain. Patients with an L4-5 catheter require more manual boluses during early labor but less during late labor. The possible association of low epidural catheters with instrumental delivery merits further investigation.

An up-down determination of the required seated duration after intrathecal injection of bupivacaine and fentanyl for the prevention of hypotension during Cesarean delivery.

PURPOSE: A prolonged seated time after intrathecal injection of hyperbaric bupivacaine and morphine is related to the incidence of hypotension during Cesarean delivery, but results in a high incidence of pain during peritoneal closure. We conducted this study to determine the effect of the addition of intrathecal fentanyl on the relationship between seated time and hypotension and intraoperative analgesia requirements. METHODS: Women undergoing Cesarean delivery were randomized to receive an intrathecal injection of either 11.25 or 15 mg of hyperbaric bupivacaine with morphine 150 µg and fentanyl 15 µg using a combined spinal-epidural technique. The seated duration following intrathecal injection was assigned using up-down methodology. If the preceding patient was hypo- or normotensive, the next patient sat for 15 sec more or less, respectively. A systolic blood pressure < 80% of the preoperative value was defined as hypotension; a standardized anesthetic was administered, and the presence of pain during the procedure was recorded. Isotonic regression of pooled adjacent violators was used to determine the time at which 50% of each group would avoid hypotension (i.e., the median effective seated time). RESULTS: There were 15 patients in each group. The median seated time was 129 sec (95% confidence interval [CI], 116 to 150) for the 11.25-mg group and 459 sec (95% CI, 444 to 471) for the 15-mg group. Only one (3%) of the 30 patients in the study had pain on peritoneal closure, and this was successfully treated with intravenous fentanyl. CONCLUSION: We have determined the seated time required following intrathecal injection of hyperbaric bupivacaine, morphine, and fentanyl to prevent hypotension in 50% of patients undergoing Cesarean delivery. TRIAL REGISTRATION: www.clinicaltrials.gov , NCT01896960. Registered 2 July 2013.

The median effective seated time for hypotension induced by spinal anesthesia at Cesarean delivery with two doses of hyperbaric bupivacaine: a randomized up-down sequential allocation study.

BACKGROUND: Extending the time a parturient is left sitting after induction of spinal anesthesia (i.e., the seated time) has had varying success in decreasing hypotension at Cesarean delivery. This may be due to the current lack of information concerning the dose-response relationship of seated time and rates of hypotension. METHODS: Term parturients scheduled for Cesarean delivery were randomized to receive 11.25 or 15.0 mg of 0.75% intrathecal hyperbaric bupivacaine, and they remained seated after injection for a length of time determined by an up-down sequential method. They were then placed in a wedged position and their blood pressure was measured every minute. Pre-delivery hypotension was considered present if there was a > 20% from baseline drop in systolic blood pressure. The seated time at which 50% of parturients avoided pre-delivery hypotension (median effective seated time) was determined with isotonic regression. RESULTS: Fifty patients were studied. For the 11.25-mg and 15.0-mg groups, the median effective seated time (95% confidence interval [CI]) was 130 sec (95% CI 117 to 150) and 385 sec (95% CI 381 to 396), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: There exists a seated time after intrathecal injection of hyperbaric bupivacaine where 50% of parturients do not experience hypotension. This seated time increases with an increased dose of bupivacaine. Further work is required to determine the full relationship between seated time and hypotension for other doses of anesthetic and to investigate the clinical utility of this technique for prevention of hypotension. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01561274).

Iliac artery rupture related to balloon insertion for placenta accreta causing maternal hemorrhage and neonatal compromise.

PURPOSE: The use of internal iliac artery balloons for prevention of hemorrhage in cases of placenta accreta is increasing. Most described complications of this technique are maternal and thromboembolic in nature. Complications related to vascular rupture are rare, their presentation is not well described, and the resultant neonatal consequences are infrequently reported. CLINICAL FEATURES: A 35-yr-old term parturient with suspected placenta accreta underwent prophylactic endovascular placement of iliac balloons prior to Cesarean delivery. The patient complained of contraction-like pain during balloon placement, and an arterial wall tear was discovered after abdominal incision. This produced significant maternal bleeding and the birth of a neonate with an umbilical venous pH of 6.95 and Apgar scores of 3 and 7. CONCLUSION: In addition to the known maternal risks, fetal risks must be considered when planning the placement of endovascular iliac balloons during pregnancy. We recommend continuous monitoring of maternal and fetal status when performing the procedure. Contraction-like pain during placement should raise the suspicion of arterial disruption.

Migration of an Inferior Vena Cava Tumor Thrombus during Renal Cell Carcinoma Resection.

Approximately 4%-10% of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) have tumoral vascular invasion with resultant thrombi in the renal vein and in the inferior vena cava (IVC). The authors describe an interesting case of IVC tumor thrombus that migrated to the right cardiac chambers during RCC resection. The diagnosis was made by intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), which revealed the presence of a free-floating thrombus between the right atrium (RA) and right ventricle (RV). The patient required an urgent sternotomy with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) for atrial thrombus removal prior to the completion of the nephrectomy. The patient made a full recovery and was discharged to a rehabilitation facility. These findings illustrate the importance of intraoperative TEE monitoring during nephrectomy and IVC thrombectomy. In this case, TEE allowed for the diagnosis of an unexpected complication necessitating prompt cardiac surgical management.

Gabapentin improves postcesarean delivery pain management: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Gabapentin is effective for preventing and treating acute and chronic postoperative pain; however, it has not been described for use in cesarean delivery. We hypothesized that preoperative gabapentin would reduce postcesarean delivery pain. METHODS: Women undergoing scheduled cesarean delivery were randomized to receive preoperative gabapentin 600 mg, or placebo. Spinal anesthesia was achieved with 0.75% hyperbaric bupivacaine 12 mg, fentanyl 10 µg, and morphine 100 µg. Postoperative analgesia was initiated with intraoperative ketorolac and acetaminophen, and continued with postoperative diclofenac, acetaminophen, and morphine. Patients were assessed at 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours after spinal anesthesia for pain at rest and on movement using a visual analog scale (0 to 100 mm), satisfaction, opioid consumption, and side effects. Neonatal interventions, Apgar scores, umbilical artery blood gases, and breastfeeding difficulties were assessed. Chronic pain was assessed 3 months after delivery. Maternal and umbilical vein gabapentin plasma concentrations were measured in a subgroup of patients. Mixed-model analysis was used to compare the primary outcome of visual analog scale pain scores at 24 hours between groups. RESULTS: Forty-six patients were randomized, and 2 were excluded from analysis. The mean (95% confidence interval, CI) pain scores on movement at 24 hours were 21 mm (CI = 13-28) in the gabapentin and 41 mm (CI = 31-50) in the placebo group (P = 0.001). Maternal satisfaction was higher in the gabapentin group. There was no difference in opioid consumption. Severe maternal sedation was more common in the gabapentin group (19% vs. 0%, P = 0.04). There was no difference in neonatal Apgar scores, interventions, or umbilical artery pH. The mean (SD) maternal vein:umbilical vein plasma gabapentin ratio was 0.86 (0.12). The incidence of pain at 3 months was similar in both groups. CONCLUSION: Preoperative gabapentin 600 mg in the setting of multimodal analgesia reduces postcesarean delivery pain and increases maternal satisfaction in comparison with placebo.

Association Between Post-Dural Puncture Headache After Neuraxial Anesthesia in Childbirth and Intracranial Subdural Hematoma.

Importance: Women giving birth have high rates of dural puncture secondary to neuraxial anesthesia and are at high risk for a resulting headache. It appears to be unknown whether there is a significant association between post-dural puncture headache and subsequent intracranial subdural hematoma. Objective: To determine the association of post-dural puncture headache with postpartum intracranial subdural hematoma. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study of patients used hospital discharges recorded in the US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality National Readmission Database for women who experienced childbirth from January 2010 to December 2016. Patients were included if they had been admitted for childbirth, had 2 months of follow-up data, and did not receive a diagnostic lumbar puncture. Only the first delivery for a calendar year was studied. Data were analyzed from January 2018 to June 2019. Exposures: Women with post-dural puncture headache associated with neuraxial anesthesia in the 2-month postpartum period were identified using International Classification of Disease (Ninth Edition and Tenth Edition) codes and were compared with those without post-dural puncture headaches. Main Outcome and Measures: The primary outcome was intracranial subdural hematoma in the 2-month postpartum period. Secondary outcomes included in-hospital mortality and occurrence of neurosurgery. Results: A total of 26 469 771 patients with 26 498 194 deliveries were included. Exclusion of repeated deliveries (n = 28 423), deliveries without 2 months of follow-up data (n = 4 329 621), and deliveries with diagnostic lumbar puncture (n = 9334) resulted in a final cohort of 22 130 815 patients and deliveries. For the cohort, the mean (SD) age was 28.1 (6.0) years, and there were 68 374 post-dural puncture headaches, for an overall rate of 309 (95% CI, 302-316) per 100 000. There were 342 cases of subdural hematoma identified, indicating a rate of 1.5 (95% CI, 1.3-1.8) per 100 000 women. Of these, 100 cases were in women with post-dural puncture headache, indicating a rate of 147 (95% CI, 111-194) hematoma cases per 100 000 deliveries in this subgroup. Post-dural puncture headache had an unadjusted absolute risk increase of 145 (95% CI, 117-174) subdural hematoma cases per 100 000 deliveries. After adjusting for confounders, post-dural puncture headache had an odds ratio for subdural hematoma of 199 (95% CI, 126-317; P < .001) and an adjusted absolute risk increase of 130 (95% CI, 90-169; P < .001) per 100 000 deliveries. Conclusions and Relevance: The presence of presumed post-dural puncture headache after neuraxial anesthesia in childbirth, compared with no headache, was associated with a small but statistically significant absolute increase in the risk of being diagnosed with intracranial subdural hematoma. Further research is needed to establish if this association is causal for this rare outcome.

Irreversible Acquired Noncompaction Cardiomyopathy in a Parturient with Corrected Atrial Septal Defect: A Case Report and Clinical Implications.

Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is described as a cardiomyopathy with an increase in left ventricle trabeculations and recesses. We report a rare case of persistent pregnancy-acquired LVNC cardiomyopathy and review the anesthetic peripartum management strategies. A 33-year-old parturient was followed closely by the high-risk obstetric service for her second pregnancy. She had an unresolved LVNC cardiomyopathy that was diagnosed during her first pregnancy for which she had a caesarean section. Her symptoms included occasional palpitations and dyspnea. She was started on metoprolol and enoxaparin. A successful caesarean section was performed at 37 weeks gestation under regional anesthesia. Echocardiograms prior to and during the second pregnancy demonstrated persistence of the LV hypertrabeculations, LV systolic dysfunction, and a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 35%. Pregnancy-induced LV hypertrabeculations occur in a significant proportion of women, but most cases spontaneously resolve completely. Favorable maternal and fetal outcomes require multidisciplinary care and careful selection of the anesthetic technique and drugs that maintain stable hemodynamics.

Anesthesia in the Elderly Patient Undergoing Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery.

Geriatric patients undergoing surgery have a whole set of specific physiologic changes, perioperative needs, and postoperative complications. This review presents an overview of the basic concepts and the evolving challenges pertaining to the care of geriatric patients undergoing otolaryngologic procedures from the perspective of the anesthesiologist.

Management of a Rare Complication of Epidural Analgesia in an Obese Laterally Positioned Parturient: Catheter Entrapment Next to the Inferior Vena Cava.

Intravascular, subdural, intrathecal, and subcutaneous placement of epidural catheters are known complications and common causes of anesthesia and analgesia failure. Because the epidural space is located near the retroperitoneum and catheters are placed blindly, it is possible that misplacement could involve other structures, including the inferior vena cava, the aorta, and the lumbar plexus. We report a case of an obese laterally positioned parturient who presented with an epidural catheter lodged in the retroperitoneum. The catheter provided inadequate analgesia for labor, and postpartum computed tomography revealed it to be located in the retroperitoneal space just adjacent to the inferior vena cava. Conventional removal techniques were unsuccessful, and the catheter was finally removed after insertion of a guide wire under fluoroscopy. We conclude that obesity and lateral positioning are factors that increase the risk of epidural catheter misplacement, and a large distance from skin to loss of resistance is a potential sign of misplacement. We recommend ultrasound imaging to aid in the insertion of epidural catheters in high-risk patients.

Predicting early epidurals: association of maternal, labor, and neonatal characteristics with epidural analgesia initiation at a cervical dilation of 3 cm or less.

BACKGROUND: Retrospective studies have associated early epidural analgesia with cesarean delivery, but prospective studies do not demonstrate a causal relationship. This suggests that there are other variables associated with early epidural analgesia that increase the risk of cesarean delivery. This study was undertaken to determine the characteristics associated with early epidural analgesia initiation. METHODS: Information about women delivering at 37 weeks or greater gestation with epidural analgesia, who were not scheduled for cesarean delivery, was extracted from the McGill Obstetric and Neonatal Database. Patients were grouped into those who received epidural analgesia at a cervical dilation of ≤3 cm and >3 cm. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the maternal, neonatal, and labor characteristics that increased the risk of inclusion in the early epidural group. RESULTS: Of the 13,119 patients analyzed, multivariable regression demonstrated odds ratios (OR) of 2.568, 5.915 and 10.410 for oxytocin augmentation, induction, and dinoprostone induction of labor (P < 0.001). Increasing parity decreased the odds of early epidural analgesia (OR 0.780, P < 0.001), while spontaneous rupture of membranes (OR 1.490) and rupture of membranes before labor commenced (OR 1.288) were also associated with early epidural analgesia (P < 0.001). Increasing maternal weight (OR 1.049, P = 0.002) and decreasing neonatal weight (OR 0.943, P < 0.001) were associated with increasing risk of early epidural analgesia. CONCLUSION: Labor augmentation and induction, nulliparity, rupture of membranes spontaneously and before labor starts, increasing maternal weight, and decreasing neonatal weight are associated with early epidural analgesia. Many of these variables are also associated with cesarean delivery.

The transversus abdominis plane block, when used as part of a multimodal regimen inclusive of intrathecal morphine, does not improve analgesia after cesarean delivery.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block has been shown to provide analgesia for lower abdominal wall incisions. We evaluated the efficacy of the TAP block for post-cesarean delivery (CD) patients used as a part of a multimodal regimen. METHODS: Women undergoing elective CD under spinal anesthesia were randomized to receive the TAP block with ropivacaine (n = 50) or placebo (n = 50), in addition to a standard postoperative analgesic regimen inclusive of intrathecal opioids. At the end of the surgical procedure, all the patients received bilateral TAP blocks under real-time ultrasound guidance, with either 20 mL of ropivacaine 0.375% or saline, on each side. Each patient was assessed at 6, 12, 24, and 48 hrs postoperatively, and again 6 weeks after the surgical procedure. The primary outcome was the difference in visual analog scale pain scores with movement at 24 hrs postpartum. Other outcomes assessed were analgesic consumption, maternal satisfaction, and incidence of adverse effects. RESULTS: One hundred women were recruited, and 96 completed the study. The mean (SD) visual analog scale pain scores on movement at 24 hrs were not different between the ropivacaine and placebo groups (3.4 [2.4] and 3.2 [2.2] cm, respectively, P = 0.47). The pain scores at other times, and the supplemental opioid consumption, were also similar between the 2 groups. The overall incidence of pain at 6 weeks postpartum was 8.3%. CONCLUSIONS: The TAP block, when used as part of a multimodal regimen inclusive of intrathecal morphine, does not improve the quality of post-CD analgesia.