What does the Internet teach the obstetric patient about labor analgesia? / O que a internet ensina à paciente obstétrica sobre a analgesia de parto?

Abstract Background and objectives: It has been observed a general public increased search on the Internet for health information, including Anesthesiology. The objective of this study was to evaluate the information available to the lay person in Portuguese on the Internet about labor analgesia for the Brazilian population. Method: Using the term "labor anesthesia", the first 20 sites found on Google in November 2014 were evaluated by two resident physicians and classified as medical and non-medical. Legibility and Design - accessibility, reliability and navigability-were compared using Flesch Reading Ease Score (FRESH) and Minervation validation tool for healthcare websites (LIDA) tools. The websites' content was confronted with that of the medical literature. Results: Medical and non-medical websites were considered difficult to read according to FRESH. Regarding the design, there was no difference between groups regarding navigability, however, accessibility was considered superior in non-medical websites (p = 0.042); while reliability was higher in medical websites (p = 0.019). Conclusions: With the increased search for health information on the Internet and concern about improving the quality of childbirth care, it is fundamental that the content available to the layperson about labor analgesia is of quality and well understood. This study demonstrated that both medical and non-medical websites are difficult to read and that non-medical websites are more accessible while the medical ones are more accurate.

Resumo Justificativa e objetivos: Observa-se um crescimento da busca de informação no público geral sobre temas médicos na internet, inclusive em anestesiologia. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a informação existente ao leigo na internet em língua portuguesa sobre analgesia de parto para a população brasileira. Método: Com o uso do termo "anestesia de parto", os 20 primeiros sites encontrados no Google em novembro de 2014 foram avaliados por dois médicos residentes e classificados como médicos e não médicos. Legibilidade e desenho - acessibilidade, confiabilidade e navegabilidade - foram comparados por meio das ferramentas Fresh (Flesch Reading Ease Score) e Lida (Minervation Validation Tool for Healthcare Websites). O conteúdo dos sites foi confrontado em relação à literatura médica. Resultados: Sites médicos e não médicos foram considerados de difícil leitura de acordo com o Fresh. Em relação ao desenho, não houve diferença entre os grupos quanto à navegabilidade. Entretanto, a acessibilidade foi considerada superior em sites não médicos (p= 0,042); enquanto que a confiabilidade foi maior em sites médicos (p= 0,019). Conclusões: Com aumento da busca de informações em saúde na internet e aumento da preocupação de melhorar a qualidade de assistência ao parto, é fundamental que o conteúdo disponível ao leigo sobre analgesia de parto seja de qualidade e compreendido. Este estudo demonstrou que tanto sites médicos como não médicos são de difícil leitura; e que os sites não médicos são mais acessíveis, enquanto os médicos são mais precisos.

[What does the Internet teach the obstetric patient about labor analgesia?] / O que a internet ensina à paciente obstétrica sobre a analgesia de parto?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It has been observed a general public increased search on the Internet for health information, including Anesthesiology. The objective of this study was to evaluate the information available to the lay person in Portuguese on the internet about labor analgesia for the Brazilian population. METHOD: Using the term "labor anesthesia", the first 20 sites found on Google in November 2014 were evaluated by two resident physicians and classified as medical and non-medical. Legibility and Design - accessibility, reliability and navigability-were compared using Flesch Reading Ease Score (FRESH) and Minervation validation tool for healthcare websites (LIDA) tools. The websites' content was confronted with that of the medical literature. RESULTS: Medical and non-medical websites were considered difficult to read according to FRESH. Regarding the design, there was no difference between groups regarding navigability, however, accessibility was considered superior in non-medical websites (p = 0.042); while reliability was higher in medical websites (p = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: With the increased search for health information on the Internet and concern about improving the quality of childbirth care, it is fundamental that the content available to the layperson about labor analgesia is of quality and well understood. This study demonstrated that both medical and non-medical websites are difficult to read and that non-medical websites are more accessible while the medical ones are more accurate.

A scoping review of the evidence for teaching ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia.

A scoping review was performed to assess published evidence regarding how best to teach ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia (UGRA). The literature search yielded 205 articles, of which 35 met the inclusion criteria. Current literature on the topic can be divided into 3 main themes: the development of motor skills, learning and teaching sonoanatomy, and understanding of the requirements for establishing a UGRA education program and evaluation. We discuss the current status and future direction of research on UGRA training.

The epidural electric stimulation test does not predict local anesthetic spread or consumption in labour epidural analgesia.

PURPOSE: The epidural electrical stimulation test (EEST) is a highly specific and sensitive test for confirming placement of the epidural catheter in the epidural space. The purpose of this study was to investigate if the EEST could predict the spread and consumption of local anesthetic solutions during labour epidural analgesia. METHODS: This observational study was conducted in labouring parturients requesting epidural analgesia. The EEST was performed after the epidural catheter placement (T0) and repeated five minutes after a test dose with 2% lidocaine 3 mL (T1). The minimum current required to elicit the motor response at each time point was recorded. A loading dose of 0.125% bupivacaine 10 mL and fentanyl 50 µg was administered and followed by patient-controlled epidural analgesia with 0.0625% bupivacaine and fentanyl 2 µg·mL(-1) (baseline infusion 10 mL·hr(-1), bolus dose 5 mL, lockout interval ten minutes, maximum dose 20 mL·hr(-1)). The primary outcome was the correlation between the current required to elicit motor responses at T0 and T1 and the consumption of bupivacaine in the first two hours of epidural administration. The secondary outcomes included the muscle contraction patterns determined by the EEST and the incidence of failed, inadequate, or asymmetric blocks. RESULTS: The study was conducted in 102 parturients. The mean electric current required to elicit muscle response was 4.43 mA (range 1-10 mA) at T0, 5.97 mA (range 1-14 mA) at T1, and the mean Δ (T1-T0) current was 1.54 mA (range 0-8 mA). There was no correlation between either the mean baseline current required or the Δ (T1-T0) current and the total bupivacaine consumption at two hours. The incidence of inadequate blocks at two hours was 18%; however, none of the catheters required replacement. Unilateral left (34%) or right (31%) leg contraction was the most frequent pattern elicited by the EEST. CONCLUSIONS: The EEST shows a wide range of electrical current requirements and elicits a variety of muscle twitch patterns on the lower limbs. Although it confirms the epidural placement of the catheter, the EEST cannot be used to predict the spread or consumption of the local anesthetic solution during labour epidural analgesia.

The intercristal line determined by palpation is not a reliable anatomical landmark for neuraxial anesthesia.

PURPOSE: The radiological intercristal line (Tuffier's line) usually intersects the spine at the L4-L5 interspace. The intercristal line determined by palpation may be used erroneously as a surrogate for the true radiological Tuffier's line. We studied term pregnant women to establish the level at which a transverse line connecting the superior aspects of the iliac crests, as determined by palpation, intersects the lumbar spine, as assessed by ultrasound. METHODS: Term pregnant women were recruited, with the exception of those with scoliosis or previous spinal surgery. With the subjects in the sitting position, the attending anesthesiologist palpated and marked the superior aspects of the iliac crests bilaterally. One of the investigators, blinded to the markings, performed a lumbar spine ultrasound scan to identify the lumbar interspaces. Each interspace was marked on the patient's back. The bilateral markings were then revealed, and a line connecting them was drawn on the patient's back. This line and the markings of the interspace levels were plotted on a transparent sheet. RESULTS: Forty-five women were studied. The palpated intercristal line was located above the L4-L5 interspace in all of the women. The median level of intersection was immediately below the L2-L3 interspace, with a range from immediately above L1-L2 to immediately above L4-L5. There was a low positive correlation between the level of intersection and the body mass index (r = 0.32; P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: In pregnant women at term, the intercristal line determined by palpation does not correspond to the Tuffier's line determined radiologically, and it may intersect the spine at up to three interspaces higher.

Anesthesiologists' learning curves for ultrasound assessment of the lumbar spine.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Ultrasound assessment of the lumbar spine to facilitate neuraxial anesthesia has recently received much attention. The transfer of knowledge pertaining to this skill has never been studied. The purpose of this study was to determine the amount of teaching needed to achieve competence in spinal ultrasound. METHODS: Participants were given reading material and a link to a video presentation on spinal ultrasound. As well, they attended a 45-min lecture followed by a 30-min hands-on workshop. They were then assessed individually 1-2 weeks later. The assessment was performed on a live model using a low frequency curved ultrasound probe (2-5 mHz). Participants were asked to determine, at random lumbar spinal levels, the optimal insertion point and the depth to the ligamentum flavum-dura mater unit (up to 20 trials, 2 min per trial). Feedback was provided by an expert for each incorrect task. The learning curves were constructed, using the cumulative sum method, by comparing the participants' results with those of a benchmark established by experts. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA 9.2 for Macintosh (College Station, TX, USA). RESULTS: A total of 308 anesthesiologists were approached and 18 anesthesiologists participated in the study. Only five of the 18 participants (27%) achieved competence in determining the interspace, with a median number of 11 attempts (range 8-18). None of the participants achieved competence in determining either the insertion point or the depth to the ligamentum flavum-dura mater unit. CONCLUSIONS: Under the study conditions, 20 supervised trials plus teaching sessions were not enough for the participants to achieve competence in different aspects of ultrasound assessment of the lumbar spine. These results may well be considered when planning teaching sessions and workshops in the future.

Pulmonary function is better preserved in pigs when acute normovolemic hemodilution is achieved with hydroxyethyl starch versus lactated Ringer's solution.

Acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH) has been proposed to decrease the need for allogenic blood transfusion. Consequently, great amounts of fluids are necessary to maintain hemodynamics during and after blood removal. The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the oxygenation, respiratory compliance, and lung structure during ANH performed with lactated Ringer's solution and hydroxyethyl starch (HES). Gas exchange, extravascular lung water, intrathoracic blood volume, serum osmolality, respiratory mechanics, and optical and electronic microscopy of lung biopsies were evaluated. Animals were randomized into three groups: CTL (control, n = 9), HES (HES 6% 200/0.5, n = 9), and LR (lactated Ringer's solution, n = 9). Animals in groups HES and LR underwent ANH to reach a preestablished hematocrit of around 15%. The removed blood was replaced with HES in a proportion of 1:1 and with lactated Ringer's solution 3:1. The LR group demonstrated a tendency for a marked time-dependence decrease in compliance (P = 0.013 in T2; P = 0.008 in T3) and in Pao2/fraction of inspired oxygen (Fio2) ratio (P = 0.033 in T2) as well as an increase in (A-a) Grad O2 (P = 0.037 in T2). Extravascular lung water and intrathoracic blood volume did not present any significant variation among the groups. In contrast, serum osmolality presented a significant decline in animals hemodiluted with lactated Ringer's solution. Optical and electronic microscopy of lungs biopsies revealed moderate to serious collapses and basement membrane enlargement in LR group. In this kind of experimental model, ANH with 6% HES (200/0.5) seems to preserve lung structure better as evidenced by maintenance of oxygenation indexes and respiratory compliance when compared with that in the Ringer's solution hemodiluted group.