Failed spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery: prevention, identification and management.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: There is an increasing awareness of the significance of intraoperative pain during cesarean delivery. Failure of spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery can occur preoperatively or intraoperatively. Testing of the neuraxial block can identify preoperative failure. Recognition of the risk of high neuraxial block in repeat spinal in case of preoperative failure is important. RECENT FINDING: Knowledge of risk factors for block failure facilitates prevention by selecting the most appropriate neuraxial procedure, adequate intrathecal doses and choice of technique. Intraoperative pain is not uncommon, and neither obstetricians nor anesthesiologists can adequately identify intraoperative pain. Early intraoperative pain should be treated differently from pain towards the end of surgery. SUMMARY: Block testing is crucial to identify preoperative failure of spinal anesthesia. Repeat neuraxial is possible but care must be taken with dosing. In this situation, switching to a combined spinal epidural or an epidural technique can be useful. Intraoperative pain must be acknowledged and adequately treated, including offering general anesthesia. Preoperative informed consent should include block failure and its management.

Effects of the Sufentanil and Dexmedetomidine Combination on Spinal Anesthesia in Patients Undergoing Lower Abdominal or Lower Extremity Surgery: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Intrathecal additive drugs are becoming increasingly common in anesthesia practice. We aimed to evaluate the additive effects of dexmedetomidine on spinal anesthesia with sufentanil in patients undergoing lower abdominal or lower limb surgery. Methods: This double-blind randomized controlled trial was performed in Mashhad, Iran, between 2017 and 2018. Sixty patients undergoing lower abdominal or lower limb surgery were randomly divided to receive 15 mg of bupivacaine and 3 µg of sufentanil (control group; n=30) or 15 mg of bupivacaine, 3 µg of sufentanil, and 10 µg of dexmedetomidine (intervention group; n=30). Outcomes, comprised of the onset and regression of sensory and motor blocks, the duration of analgesia, analgesic use, hemodynamic parameters, and side effects, were assessed. The data were analyzed in the SPSS software (version 22), using different statistical tests. A P value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The times of sensory and motor blocks reaching T10 and Bromage 3, respectively, were significantly shorter, while the times of sensory and motor regressions to S1 and Bromage 0, correspondingly, were significantly longer in the intervention group than in the control group (P<0.001). Both the frequency (P=0.006) and the dose (P<0.001) of postoperative analgesic use were significantly lower, and the duration of analgesia was significantly longer in the intervention group (P<0.001). The frequency of side effects and changes in hemodynamic parameters had no significant differences between the groups. Conclusion: The sufentanil and dexmedetomidine combination in spinal anesthesia caused the earlier onset and later regression of sensory and motor blocks, longer postoperative analgesia, and lower analgesic use without significant side effects or hemodynamic changes, which appears to be due to the combined effects of sufentanil and dexmedetomidine. Trial Registration Number: IRCT2017082833680N3.

Intrathecal Opioid Dosing During Spinal Anesthesia for Cesarean Section: An Integrative Review.

Approximately one in three women in the United States deliver via Cesarean section (CS), making it one of the most common surgical procedures in the country. Neuraxial (spinal or epidural) anesthesia is the most effective and common anesthetic approach for pain relief during a CS in the United States and often associated with adverse effects such as nausea, vomiting, and pruritus. While recommended dose ranges exist to protect patient safety, there are a lack of guidelines for opioid doses that both optimize postoperative pain management and minimize side effects. This integrative review synthesizes the evidence regarding best practice of opioid dosing in neuraxial anesthesia for planned CS. Evidence supports the use of lower doses of intrathecal (IT) opioids, specifically 0.1 morphine, to achieve optimal pain management with minimal nausea, vomiting, and pruritus. Lower IT doses have potential to achieve pain management and to alleviate preventable side effects in women delivering via CS.

Determining competence in performing obstetric combined spinal-epidural procedures in junior anesthesiology residents: results from a cumulative sum analysis.

BACKGROUND: The epidural anesthesia technique is a challenging skill to master. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) stipulates that anesthesiology residents must complete 40 epidural procedures by the end of junior residency. The rationale is unknown. The aim of this prospective study was to determine the minimum case experience required to demonstrate competence in performing obstetric combined spinal-epidural procedures among junior residents, using an objective statistical tool, the cumulative sum (CUSUM) analysis. METHODS: Twenty-four residents, with no prior experience performing epidurals, sequentially recorded all obstetric combined spinal-epidural procedures as a 'success' or 'failure', based on study criteria. Individual CUSUM graphs were plotted, with acceptable and unacceptable failure rates set at 20% and 35%, respectively. The number of procedural attempts necessary to demonstrate competence was determined. RESULTS: Twenty-four residents (mean (SD) age 29 (2) years) participated in the study. Median (IQR) number of procedures was 78 (66-85), with a median (IQR) success rate of 86% (82-89%). Nineteen of 24 residents required a median (IQR) of 40 (33-50) attempts to demonstrate competence. Five did not achieve procedural competence in the training period. The CUSUM graphs highlighted performance trends that required intervention. CONCLUSION: Competence was achieved by 19/24 residents after the ACGME-required case experience of 40 combined spinal-epidural procedures, based on a predefined acceptable failure rate of 20%. In our experience, CUSUM analysis is useful in monitoring technical performance over time and should be included as an adjunct assessment method for determining procedural competence.

A qualitative study of the operating room experience of patients who underwent surgery under spinal anesthesia: "It was like an adventure".

This study aimed to explore the experiences of the people who underwent orthopedic surgery under spinal anesthesia and to report their feelings and thoughts. The study was carried out using a qualitative approach. Twenty-one patients were interviewed who underwent orthopedic surgery on the first or second postoperative day. Content analysis was performed after the collection of raw data. NVIVO 12 Pro software was used for data analysis. The frequency count (f) and participant codes (P) were used for the presentation of the findings. The themes and frequency counts obtained by analyzing the interviews with the patients were as follows: "Time passed like watching a movie" (f = 213), "Like an adventure" (f = 587), and "See, feel, look" (f = 405). Five of 21 participants (23.8%) stated that they would not recommend spinal anesthesia. The findings generally indicated the anxiety caused by the unknown, fear in the preanesthetic period, operation experienced like an adventure, and a process generally completed with satisfaction.

Anesthesia Considerations of a Pregnant Woman With COVID-19 Undergoing Cesarean Delivery: A Case Report.

Physiologic changes during pregnancy may increase the risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Limited data show serious complications of COVID-19 infection and pregnancy. Severe adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes such as preterm delivery, intensive care unit admission, and neonatal and intrauterine death have been reported. Our knowledge of the epidemiology, pathogenesis, disease progression, and clinical course of COVID-19 is continually changing as more information and evidence emerge. The present case adds further insights on COVID-19 and anesthesia considerations for patients undergoing cesarean delivery. In this case report, we describe a successful spinal anesthetic in a pregnant woman with confirmed COVID-19. To prepare for the likelihood of caring for women during labor and cesarean delivery, anesthesia professionals must know how to provide safe, patient-centered care and how to protect every member of the obstetric team from exposure to the virus. In addition, it is paramount that our profession shares our experiences and practices to help guide our multidisciplinary approach in delivering the best care possible to these women.

A Comparison of Spinal Anesthesia Versus Monitored Anesthesia Care With Local Anesthesia in Minimally Invasive Fetal Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive fetal surgery is commonly performed to treat twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome with selective fetoscopic laser photocoagulation and twin-reversed arterial perfusion sequence using radiofrequency ablation. Although an increasing number of centers worldwide are performing these procedures, anesthetic management varies. Both neuraxial anesthesia and monitored anesthesia care with local anesthesia are used at different institutions. We sought to determine the efficacy and outcomes of these 2 anesthetic techniques for fetal procedures at our institution. METHODS: All patients undergoing minimally invasive fetal surgery for twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome or twin-reversed arterial perfusion sequence over a 6-year time period (2011-2016) were reviewed. Patients receiving monitored anesthesia care with local anesthesia were compared with those receiving spinal anesthesia in both selective fetoscopic laser photocoagulation and radiofrequency ablation fetal procedures. The primary outcome examined between the monitored anesthesia care and spinal anesthesia groups was the difference in conversion to general anesthesia using a noninferiority design with a noninferiority margin of 5%. Secondary outcome measures included use of vasopressors, procedure times, intraoperative fluids administered, maternal complications, and unexpected fetal demise within 24 hours of surgery. RESULTS: The difference in failure rate between monitored anesthesia care and spinal was -0.5% (95% CI, -4.8% to 3.7%). Patients receiving monitored anesthesia care plus local anesthesia were significantly less likely to need vasopressors, had a shorter presurgical operating room time, and received less fluid (P < .001). Operative time did not differ significantly. CONCLUSIONS: Monitored anesthesia care plus local anesthesia is a reliable and safe anesthetic choice for minimally invasive fetal surgery. Furthermore, it decreases maternal hemodynamic instability and reduces preincision operating room time.

Comparison of Spinal Anesthesia Quality Between Patients Addicted and Not Addicted to Opium.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the quality of spinal anesthesia between opium-dependent and opium-naive patients. DESIGN: A case-control study. METHODS: Two groups of subjects including opium-dependent and opium-naive patients (30 per group) were enrolled. Spinal anesthesia was performed using 15 mg of bupivacaine. The level of anesthesia was assessed every minute for 10 min and then every 10 min for 180 min. Motor block was recorded at 10, 60, 120, and 180 minutes. The duration of anesthesia was recorded. FINDINGS: The mean duration of spinal anesthesia was significantly shorter in opium-dependent patients (101.45 ± 28.670) than in opium-naive patients (126.14 ± 24.206) (P = .003). The mean onset of sensory block was not significantly different between the two groups (4.14 ± 1.62 vs 3.69 ± 1.36, P = .259). CONCLUSIONS: Substance abuse affects the duration of spinal anesthesia, so it is recommended to use intravenous medications or higher doses of spinal marcaine for these patients.

General versus spinal anesthesia for the elderly hip fractured patient.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: There is an urge to improve care for patients with hip fracture. The present review will compare the efficacy of spinal versus general anesthesia for patients requiring hip fracture surgery. RECENT FINDINGS: The present review gives an overview with particular emphasis on literature published during the past 24 months. SUMMARY: So far, no clear evidence form randomized trials exists to identify the best anesthesia technique for hip fracture surgery. However, several large-scale pragmatic trials are ongoing and will provide future guidance.

Update on the Physiologic Effects of Ketamine in General Anesthesia and Spinal Blockade: A Review of the Literature.

Ketamine, a phencyclidine analog and dissociative anesthetic, has been used in anesthesia since the 1960s. Serial subanesthetic administration has been explored for treatment of depression and chronic pain; however, there has been a recent surge in its intraoperative and perioperative use among anesthesia providers. As ketamine becomes an important addition to multimodal acute pain regimens, it important that anesthesia providers review the physiologic underpinnings of ketamine administration. Herein, we review the primary scientific literature and discuss recent studies that have implicated ketamine in inflammation and oxidative stress, inhibition of ion channels in dorsal horn neurons, and in disruption of frontoparietal communication. Also discussed are the potential clinical implications these effects may have for patients.

The Impact of Spinal Needle Selection on Postdural Puncture Headache: A Meta-Analysis and Metaregression of Randomized Studies.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Potentially broadened indications for spinal anesthesia require increased understanding of the risk factors and prevention measures associated with postdural puncture headache (PDPH). This review is designed to examine the association between spinal needle characteristics and incidence of PDPH. METHODS: Meta-analysis and metaregression was performed on randomized controlled trials to determine the effect of needle design and gauge on the incidence of PDPH after controlling for patient confounders such as age, sex, and year of publication. RESULTS: Fifty-seven randomized controlled trials (n = 16416) were included in our analysis, of which 32 compared pencil-point design with cutting-needle design and 25 compared individual gauges of similar design. Pencil-point design was associated with a statistically significant reduction in incidence of PDPH (risk ratio, 0.41; 95% confidence interval, 0.31-0.54; P < 0.001; I = 29%) compared with cutting needles among studies that assessed both design types. Subgroup analysis among obstetric and nonobstetric procedures yielded similar results. After adjustment for significant covariates, metaregression analysis among all 57 included trials revealed a significant correlation between needle gauge and rate of PDPH among cutting needles (slope = -2.65, P < 0.001), but not pencil-point needles (slope = -0.01, P = 0.819). CONCLUSIONS: Pencil-point needles are associated with significantly lower incidence of PDPH compared with the cutting-needle design. Whereas a significant relationship was noted between needle gauge and PDPH for cutting-needle design, a similar association was not shown for pencil-point needles. Providers may consider selection of larger-caliber pencil-point needle to maximize technical proficiency without expensing increased rates of PDPH.

Validation of the imperial college surgical assessment device for spinal anesthesia.

BACKGROUND: Traditionally, technical proficiency for spinal anesthesia has been assessed using observational scales such as global rating scales or task specific checklists. However more objective metrics are required in order to improve novice's training programs. The aim of this study is to validate the hand motion analysis of the Imperial College Surgical Assessment Device (ICSAD) in a simulated model of spinal anesthesia. METHODS: Three groups of physicians with different levels of experience were video recorded performing a spinal anesthesia in a simulated lumbar puncture torso. Participants' technical performance was assessed with ICSAD, a Global Rating Scale (GRS) and a specific Checklist. Differences between the 3 groups were determined by Kruskal-Wallis test with post hoc Dunn's correction for multiple comparisons. Spearman correlation coefficient between ICSAD variables and the scores of the observational scales were calculated to establish concurrent validity. RESULTS: Thirty subjects participated in the study: ten novice (first year residents), 10 intermediate (third year residents) and 10 experts (attending anesthesiologists). GRS scores were significantly higher in experts, than intermediates and novices. Regarding total path length, number of movements and procedural time measured with ICSAD, all groups had significant differences between them (p = 0.026, p = 0.045 and p = 0.005 respectively). Spearman correlation coefficient was -0,46 (p = 0.012) between total path length measured with ICSAD and GRS scores. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first validation study of ICSAD as an assessment tool for spinal anesthesia in a simulated model. Using ICSAD can discriminate proficiency between expert and novices and correlates with previously validated GRS. Its use in the assessment of spinal anesthesia proficiency provides complementary data to existing tools. Our results could be used to design future training programs with reliable goals to accomplish.

Aortocaval Compression Syndrome: Time to Revisit Certain Dogmas.

More than 70 years ago, the phenomenon of "postural shock" in the supine position was described in healthy women in late pregnancy. Since then, avoidance of the supine position has become a key component of clinical practice. Indeed, performing pelvic tilt in mothers at term to avoid aortocaval compression is a universally adopted measure, particularly during cesarean delivery. The studies on which this practice is based are largely nonrandomized, utilized a mix of anesthetic techniques, and were conducted decades ago in the setting of avoidance of vasopressors. Recent evidence is beginning to refine our understanding of the physiologic consequences of aortocaval compression in the context of contemporary clinical practice. For example, magnetic resonance imaging of women at term in the supine and tilted positions has challenged the dogma that 15° of left tilt is sufficient to relieve inferior vena cava compression. A clinical investigation of healthy term women undergoing elective cesarean delivery with spinal anesthesia found no difference in neonatal acid-base status between women randomized to be either tilted to the left by 15° or to be in the supine position, if maternal systolic blood pressure is maintained at baseline with a crystalloid coload and prophylactic phenylephrine infusion. This review presents a fresh look at the decades of evidence surrounding this topic and proposes a reevaluation and appraisal of current guidelines regarding entrenched practices.

[Recent standards in management of obstetric anesthesia]. / Aktuelle Versorgungskonzepte in der geburtshilflichen Anästhesie.

The following article contains information not only for the clinical working anaesthesiologist, but also for other specialists involved in obstetric affairs. Besides a synopsis of a German translation of the current "Practice Guidelines for Obstetric Anaesthesia 2016" [1], written by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the authors provide personal information regarding major topics of obstetric anaesthesia including pre-anaesthesia patient evaluation, equipment and staff at the delivery room, use of general anaesthesia, peridural analgesia, spinal anaesthesia, combined spinal-epidural anaesthesia, single shot spinal anaesthesia, and programmed intermittent epidural bolus.

[Meningitis after spinal anesthesia]. / Méningite après rachianesthésie.

Meningitis is a rare but serious complication of epidural and spinal anesthesia. Bacterial meningitis is mainly caused by Gram-positive cocci, implying an exogenous contamination which suggests a lack of asepsis. The evolution is usually favorable after treatment, but at the expense of increased health care costs and, sometimes, of significant neurological sequelae. We report a case of bacterial meningitis after spinal anesthesia for caesarean section.

Conventional Landmark-Guided Midline Versus Preprocedure Ultrasound-Guided Paramedian Techniques in Spinal Anesthesia.

BACKGROUND: Multiple passes and attempts while administering spinal anesthesia are associated with a greater incidence of postdural puncture headache, paraesthesia, and spinal hematoma. We hypothesized that the routine use of a preprocedural ultrasound-guided paramedian technique for spinal anesthesia would reduce the number of passes required to achieve entry into the subarachnoid space when compared with the conventional landmark-guided midline approach. METHODS: One hundred consenting patients scheduled for elective total joint replacements (hip and knee) were randomized into group C (conventional) and group P (preprocedural ultrasound-guided paramedian technique) with 50 in each group. The patients were blinded to the study group. All spinal anesthetics were administered by a consultant anesthesiologist. In group C, spinal anesthetic was done via the midline approach using clinically palpated landmarks. In group P, a preprocedural ultrasound scan was used to mark the paramedian insertion site, and spinal anesthetic was performed via the paramedian approach. RESULTS: The average number of passes (defined as the number of forward advancements of the spinal needle in a given interspinous space, i.e., withdrawal and redirection of spinal needle without exiting the skin) in group P was approximately 0.34 times that in group C, a difference that was statistically significant (P = 0.01). Similarly, the average number of attempts (defined as the number of times the spinal needle was withdrawn from the skin and reinserted) in group P was approximately 0.25 times that of group C (P = 0.0021). In group P, on an average, it took 81.5 (99% confidence interval, 68.4-97 seconds) seconds longer to identify the landmarks than in group C (P = 0.0002). All other parameters, including grading of palpated landmarks, time taken for spinal anesthetic injection, periprocedural pain scores, periprocedural patient discomfort visual analog scale score, conversion to general anesthetic, paresthesia, and radicular pain during needle insertion, were similar between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Routine use of paramedian spinal anesthesia in the orthopedic patient population undergoing joint replacement surgery, guided by preprocedure ultrasound examination, significantly decreases the number of passes and attempts needed to enter the subarachnoid space.

Failed Obstetric Spinal Anesthesia in a Nigerian Teaching Hospital: Incidence and Risk Factors.

BACKGROUND: In a retrospective survey, we found 1% cases with complete and partial failure of spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery between 2008 and 2010, which we attributed to underreporting because of the study design. In this prospective study, we determined the incidence of failed spinal anesthesia and identified the factors that increased its risk. METHODS: This prospective, observational study consisted of all spinal anesthetics administered for cesarean delivery surgery from January 2011 to December 2013. Our definition of failure covered complete (preoperative) failure to achieve a pain-free operative condition and pain during surgery (intraoperative failure). RESULTS: Of a total of 3568 cesarean deliveries, there were 3239 (90.8%) spinal blocks, and the overall failure was 294 (9.1%). These were rescued by conversion to general anesthesia (22.8%) and repeating spinal (23.1%) and IV analgesic supplementation (54.1%). Analysis by logistic regression model indicated that factors associated with failure were the level of experience of the anesthesia provider as shown by senior registrar (adjusted risk ratio [RR], 1.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0-1.9), >1 lumbar puncture attempt (adjusted RR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1-1.9), and use of the L4/L5 interspace (adjusted RR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.4-2.0). CONCLUSIONS: The rate of failed spinal anesthesia from this study was high. The independent predictors of failure were multiple lumbar puncture attempts, use of the L4/L5 interspace, and the level of experience of the anesthesia provider. It is imperative to develop clear guidelines to standardize our obstetric spinal anesthetic practice as well as the management of failures.

[New short-acting local anaesthetics for spinal anaesthesia - Well-tried substances for ambulatory surgery]. / Neue kurzwirksame Lokalanästhetika in der Spinalanästhesie - Altbewährte Substanzen für ambulante Eingriffe.

More and more operative procedures are performed in an ambulatory setting. Many patients are denied spinal anaesthesia, although it provides several advantages. Innovative pharmaceutical formulations of well-tried local anaesthetics have created "new" substances that are ideal for ambulatory surgery due to their fast onset, short duration of action, and very low incidence of complications such as transient neurological symptoms (TNS). Both hyperbaric prilocaine 2% and preservative-free chloroprocaine 1% were recently approved for spinal application in Germany. Additional perioperative measures, such as the use of atraumatic, thin spinal needles (25 or 27G), restrictive volume management, and early patient mobilisation, lead to a further reduction of complications. The new S1 guideline of the German Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine encourages us anaesthetists to use spinal anaesthesia more frequently in an ambulatory setting.