Sugammadex in the management of rocuronium-induced anaphylaxis.

Anaphylaxis during anaesthesia is a rare event that in ∼60-70% of cases is secondary to neuromuscular blocking agents. It has been suggested previously that the recent introduction of sugammadex may provide a novel therapeutic approach to the management of rocuronium-induced anaphylaxis. We describe the case of a 33-yr-old female who suffered a severe anaphylactic reaction to rocuronium, presenting with cardiovascular collapse on induction of anaesthesia. After 19 min of traditional management, she was given a bolus of sugammadex 500 mg. This was associated with an improvement in the adverse haemodynamic state. The underlying reasons for this are unclear, but sugammadex may potentially be a useful adjunct in the management of rocuronium-induced anaphylaxis.

Analgesia after caesarean delivery.

As the number of women giving birth by caesarean increases throughout most of the developed world, so too is research into postoperative pain relief for these women. Like most other post-surgical populations, the new mother needs effective pain relief so that she can mobilise early but she also has the added responsibility of needing to care for her newborn baby. There is no 'gold standard' for post-caesarean pain management; the number of options is large and the choice of method is at least partly determined by drug availability, regional and individual preferences, resource limitations and financial considerations. Most methods rely on opioids, supplemented with anti-inflammatory analgesics, nerve blocks or other adjunctive techniques. The aim of this review is to detail commonly used opioid-based methods and to review the evidence supporting non-opioid methods, when incorporated into a multimodal approach to post-caesarean pain management. Areas of promising research are also discussed.

Epidural analgesia for labour in a patient with a neural tube defect.

This report describes the use of epidural analgesia in a patient with a known neural tube defect. The patient had a severe form of spina bifida cystica which had been operated on in childhood. She had a neurogenic bladder but otherwise had preserved neurological function. She had an epidural catheter inserted in early labour; providing effective analgesia for an uneventful birth. This case outlines the severity of the cystica category of neural tube defects, the added anatomical challenges of previous surgery and the difficulties that may arise from the utilization of epidural analgesia. The case demonstrates that epidural analgesia can be utilized despite such a disorder A thorough history and examination are essential, as are the patient's informed consent and knowledge of possible complications.

Management of a parturient with paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria.

We present the case of a 30-year-old parturient diagnosed in the first trimester of her first pregnancy as having paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria. Pancytopenia necessitated regular transfusion of blood products. The risks of infection, haemorrhage and thrombosis, in the presence of severe thrombocytopenia, mild neutropenia and prophylactic anticoagulation, posed management challenges. We discuss the pathophysiology of paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria and the impact of pregnancy on the disorder, particularly on maternal morbidities such as thrombosis. The issues relevant to antenatal and peripartum obstetric, haematological and anaesthetic care for vaginal delivery are considered. Severe thrombocytopenia proved a contraindication to regional techniques and she required general anaesthesia for evacuation of a retained placenta. The post-partum period was complicated by fever and a requirement for blood products. Management of these problems, of prophylactic anticoagulation and subsequent therapy, are discussed.

The efficacy and cost-effectiveness of prophylactic 5-hydroxytryptamine3 receptor antagonists: tropisetron, ondansetron and dolasetron.

There are currently three 5-hydroxytryptamine3 (5-HT3) receptor antagonists available in Australia. In this randomized, double-blind, parallel group study the prophylactic antiemetic effect of a single dose of tropisetron 2 mg, ondansetron 4 mg or dolasetron 12.5 mg was compared after major gynaecological surgery. One hundred and eighteen patients (group T n = 42; group O n = 36; group D n = 40) were evaluated for nausea, vomiting, recovery characteristics and satisfaction for 24 hours postoperatively. A cost-effectiveness analysis was performed. Rescue antiemetic, prochlorperazine 12.5 mg i.m., was given if vomiting occurred more than 10 minutes after arrival in the recovery room. If prochlorperazine was ineffective one hour after administration, droperidol 1 mg i.v. was given. There were no significant differences between groups for the incidence of vomiting during consecutive epochs until 24 hours postoperatively or overall (57%, 75% and 72.5% for groups T, O and D respectively, P = 0.18). The incidence and number of rescue antiementic treatments for nausea or vomiting were similar. The incidence of nausea and the overall and interval nausea scores were similar except for lower "worst nausea" score in group T between 12 and 18 hours (P = 0.02). Recovery times, satisfaction and cost per patient did not differ between groups. We conclude that the risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting remained high in this setting despite 5-HT3 receptor antagonist prophylaxis and that the choice between these agents should be based on the lowest available acquisition cost.