Comparison of clinical effects according to dosage of fentanyl added to 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine for spinal anesthesia in patients undergoing cesarean section

BACKGROUND: Spinal anesthesia for cesarean section is widely used technique for rapid induction, high success rate and excellent intraoperative and postoperative analgesia. Potentiating the effect of intrathecal local anesthetics by addition of opioid for cesarean section is well known. In this study, we compared the clinical effects when different doses of fentanyl were combined with intrathecal hyperbaric bupivacaine. METHODS: Ninety six healthy term parturients were randomly divided into four groups: Group C (control), : Group F10 (fentanyl 10 microg), : Group F15 (fentanyl 15 microg), F: Group F20 (fentanyl 20 microg). In every group, 0.5% heavy bupivacaine was added according to the adjusted dose regimen. We observed the maximal level of the sensory block and motor block, the quality of intraoperative analgesia, the duration of effective analgesia and the side effects. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between four groups in maximal level and recovery rate of sensory and motor block. Quality of intraopertive analgesia and muscle relaxation was increasing by increasing dosage of intrathecal opioids. Duration of effective analgesia was significantly prolonged in Group F15 and F20 than Group C and F10, but there were no differences between Group F15 and F20. And the frequencies of side effects such as hypotension, max sedation level were increasing by increasing dosage of intrathecal opioids. The Apgar scores were normal, and there were no differences between the four groups. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of fentanyl 15 microg for spinal anesthesia provides adequate intraoperative analgesia and good postoperative analgesia without significant adverse effects.

Comparison of clinical effects according to the dosage of sufentanil added to 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine for spinal anesthesia in patients undergoing cesarean section / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Subarachnoid block is a widely used technique for cesarean section. To improve the quality of analgesia and prolong the duration of analgesia, addition of intrathecal opioids to local anesthetics has been encouraged. We compared the effects of sufentanil 2.5 microg and 5 microg, which were added to intrathecal hyperbaric bupivacaine. METHODS: We enrolled 105 full term parturients were randomly divided into 3 groups: Group 1 (control), Group 2 (sufentanil 2.5 microg), and Group 3 (sufentanil 5 microg). In every group, 0.5% heavy bupivacaine was added according to the adjusted dose regimen. We determined the maximum level of sensory block and motor block, the quality of intraoperative analgesia, the duration of effective analgesia and side effects. RESULTS: There were no significant differences among the 3 groups in the maximum level of the sensory block and motor block. Recovery rate of the sensory block, however, was significantly slower in Group 3 than Group 1. Quality of intraopertive analgesia, muscle relaxation, and duration of effective analgesia were enhanced by increasing the dosage of intrathecal sufentanil. Frequencies of hypotension, maximum sedation level, and pruritus were directly related to the dosage of intrathecal sufentanil, whereas nausea and vomiting occurred only in the groups using sufentanil. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of sufentanil 2.5 microg for spinal anesthesia provides adequate intraoperative analgesia and good postoperative analgesia with minimal adverse effects on the mother.

Comparison of fentanyl and sufentanil added to 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine for spinal anesthesia in patients undergoing cesarean section / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Subarachnoid block is widely used for cesarean section due to the rapid induction, the complete analgesia, the low failure rate and the prevention of aspiration pneumonia. The addition of intrathecal opioids to local anesthetics seems to improve the quality of analgesia & prolong the duration of analgesia. Therefore we compared the effects of fentanyl 20 microg and sufentanil 2.5 microg, which were added to intrathecal hyperbaric bupivacaine. METHODS: Seventy two healthy term parturients were randomly divided into three groups: Group C (control), Group F (fentanyl 20 microg) and Group S (sufentanil 2.5 microg). In every group, 0.5% heavy bupivacaine was added according to the adjusted dose regimen by Harten et al. We observed the maximal level of the sensory block and motor block, the quality of intraoperative analgesia, the duration of effective analgesia and the side effects. RESULTS: There were significant differences between the control and the fentanyl 20 microg and sufentanil 2.5 microg groups for the degree of muscle relaxation, the quality of intraoperative analgesia, the maximal sedation level and the duration of effective analgesia. The frequencies of side effects such as nausea and pruritis in the opioid groups were higher than those in the control group. But there were no differences between fentanyl 20 microg and sufentanil 2.5 microg for the frequencies of nausea and pruritis. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of fentanyl 20 microg or sufentanil 2.5 microg for spinal anesthesia provides adequate intraoperative analgesia without significant adverse effects on the mother and neonate.

Pulmonary edema following intramyometrial injection and paracervical infiltration of vasopressin during laparoscopic myomectomy and LAVH (Laparoscopic abdominal vaginal hysterectomy): A report of 2 cases

Vasopressin is often used locally to reduce blood loss in gynecologic surgery. The use of local infiltration of low concentration vasopressin (0.05-0.3 units/ml) has been considered to be safe. However, serious side effects such as bradycardia, hypertension, arrhythmia, pulmonary edema, coronary vasospasm, myocardial infarction and even cardiac arrest were reported during low-dose vasopressin. In 2 healthy women with myoma and multiple myoma combined with adenomyosis, we experienced pulmonary edema after intramyometrial injection and paracervical infiltration of vasopressin. After diuretics and oxygen therapy, the patients were recovered without any complications.

Amniotic fluid embolism that took place during an emergent Cesarean section: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) is a rare but fatal obstetric emergency, characterized by sudden cardiovascular collapse, dyspnea or respiratory arrest and altered mentality, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). It can lead to severe maternal morbidity and mortality, but the prediction of its occurrence and treatment are very difficult. We experienced a case of AFE during emergent Cesarean section in a 40(+6) weeks healthy pregnant woman, age 33. Sudden dyspnea, hypotension, signs of pulmonary edema and DIC were developed during Cesarean section, and cardiac arrest followed after these events. The course of these events was so rapid and catastrophic, which was consistent with AFE. Thus, we report this case precisely and review pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment of AFE by referring to up-to-date literatures.

Anesthetic management for emergent Cesarean section in a patient with toxic epidermal necrolysis: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is rare but serious cutaneous reaction with significant mortality and long-term morbidity. Various etiologies, particularly numerous medications and infectious agents have been implicated. It is characterized as inflammatory bullous lesions of the skin and mucous membrane and can develop serious complications such as pneumonia, pneumothorax, sepsis and renal failure. In general, patients with TEN are managed as severe second-degree burn patients with preventing excessive fluid deficit and infections. In this case, we aimed to present anesthetic management of a 26-year-old pregnant woman with TEN who received general anesthesia during emergent cesarean section.

A case of displaced pulmonary artery catheter into hepatic vein in mitral insufficiency patient: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

A 47-year-old woman was scheduled for mitral valvoplasty. Before induction of anesthesia, a pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) was placed via right internal jugular vein. Central venous pressure or right atrial pressure was traced until about 60 cm of PAC insertion and right ventricular pressure curve appeared without arrhythmias. We withdrew and advanced the catheter several times, but pressure tracing showed the same pattern. And we could not obtain the pulmonary artery pressure. We decided to leave the PAC in the right ventricle. No ventricular arrhythmia was detected. Postoperative chest x-ray revealed that PAC traveled through inferior vena cava and looped in the hepatic vein with the tip of the catheter in the right ventricle. Under fluoroscopic guidance, PAC was inserted to the pulmonary artery. No sign of hepatic vein obstruction was detected.