Intrathecal catheter use after accidental dural puncture in obstetric patients: literature review and clinical management recommendations.

If an accidental dural puncture occurs, one option is to insert a catheter and use it as an intrathecal catheter. This avoids the need for a further injection and can rapidly provide labour analgesia and anaesthesia for caesarean section. However, there are no recommendations for managing intrathecal catheters and, therefore, significant variation in clinical practice exists. Mismanagement of the intrathecal catheter can lead to increased motor block, high spinal anaesthesia, drug error, hypotension and fetal bradycardia. Care must be taken with an intrathecal catheter to adhere to strict aseptic technique, meticulous labelling, cautious administration of medications and good communication with the patient and other staff. Every institution considering the use of intrathecal catheters should establish a protocol. For labour analgesia, we recommend the use of dilute local anaesthetic agents and opioids. For caesarean section anaesthesia, gradual titration to the level of the fourth thoracic dermatome, with full monitoring, in a facility equipped to manage complications, should be performed using local anaesthetics combined with lipophilic opioids and morphine or diamorphine. Although evidence of the presence and duration of intrathecal catheters on the development of post-dural puncture headache and need for epidural blood patch is limited, we suggest considering leaving the intrathecal catheter in for 24 hours to reduce the chance of developing a post-dural puncture headache while maintaining precautions to avoid drug error and cerebrospinal fluid leakage. Injection of sterile normal saline into the intrathecal catheter may reduce post-dural puncture headache. The level of evidence for these recommendations was low.

Upper back, neck, and shoulder pain during labor epidural analgesia: a quality improvement initiative.

BACKGROUND: Severe upper back/interscapular, neck and shoulder pain during labor epidural analgesia (PLEA) is not uncommon. The objective of this quality initiative was to evaluate the incidence, demographic associations and management of PLEA. METHODS: An eight-month, single-center quality improvement initiative was performed for the detection and management of PLEA. After survey-based consensus among obstetric anaesthetist attendings and fellows, a three-step PLEA treatment protocol with interventions and numeric rating scale (NRS, 0 - 10 scale) pain assessments was introduced. Demographic data and outcomes were compared among parturients with and without PLEA. RESULTS: Among 2888 women who received labor epidural analgesia from October 2022 through May 2023, 36 (1.2% [95% CI 0.9% to 1.7%]) reported PLEA. Women with PLEA were younger, more likely to be nulliparous, and had a higher body mass index (BMI) than women without PLEA (p < 0.05 for all). A total of 72.2% (26/36) of women with PLEA received at least one protocol treatment. Twenty-three women received first-line therapy, with pain relief in 91.3% (21/23). The median NRS score decreased from 9 [IQR 8-10] to 3 [1-4]. Women with PLEA had a higher incidence of cesarean delivery (CD) and a longer interval between epidural placement and delivery; 52.8 vs. 17.5% (p < 0.001) and 16.5 vs. 6.9 hours (p < 0.001), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of PLEA was higher than previously reported. Patients with PLEA were younger, more commonly nulliparous, had higher BMI, longer epidural infusion times and higher CD rates. A three-step treatment protocol was successful in managing PLEA.

Sacral sensory blockade from 27-gauge pencil-point dural puncture epidural analgesia or epidural analgesia in laboring nulliparous parturients: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The dural puncture epidural (DPE) technique has been associated with better sacral analgesia compared with a traditional epidural (EPL) technique in laboring parturients. The aim of this study was to investigate whether DPE with a 27-gauge pencil-point needle compared with a traditional EPL technique produces more rapid bilateral sacral blockade in nulliparous parturients. METHODS: Patients were randomized to a DPE or EPL technique. Epidural analgesia in both groups was initiated with ropivacaine 0.1% and sufentanil 0.5 µg/mL (15 mL) and maintained via programmed intermittent epidural boluses. Analgesic blockade was tested bilaterally beginning 10 min after initiation, and then at predefined intervals until delivery. The presence of an S2 blockade at 20 min was the primary outcome. RESULTS: Among 108 (54 per group) patients enrolled, bilateral sacral (S2) blockade at 20 min was significantly more common in the DPE than in the EPL group [47 (87%) vs. 23 (43%), absolute risk reduction (ARR) 44%, 95% CI 28 to 60; P < 0.001]. Time to a numeric pain rating scale score (0-10 scale) ≤ 3 (20 [20,30] min in both groups, HR 1.15, 95% CI 0.77 to 1.15; P = 0.50), number of rescue doses [0 (0, 1) vs 0 (0, 1); P 0.08], and presence of bilateral S2 blockade at delivery were not significantly different between groups. CONCLUSIONS: The DPE technique with a 27-gauge pencil-point spinal needle more often provides bilateral sacral blockade at 20 min following block initiation compared with the EPL technique. The time to adequate analgesia and need for supplemental analgesia did not appear to differ between techniques.

The venous system during pregnancy. Part 2: clinical implications.

Maternal positioning, medications, and other modulations to the venous system can affect maternal and fetal well-being. The venous system is a dynamic reservoir for blood volume, in which a virtual point of conversion between unstressed volume (Vu) and stressed volume (Vs) exists. The anatomic and physiologic changes associated with hypotension (e.g. supine and neuraxial technique-induced), hypertension (e.g. preeclampsia), and fluid management (e.g. early recovery after cesarean delivery protocols) are opportunities to consider the important role of the venous system in pregnancy.

The venous system during pregnancy. Part 1: physiologic considerations.

An essential contributor to the hemodynamic responses observed during pregnancy, the venous system is affected by hormones, blood volume, flow rates, and an enlarging uterus. The venous system is a dynamic reservoir for blood volume, within which a virtual point of conversion between unstressed volume (Vu) and stressed volume (Vs) exists. The physiologic importance of the venous system during pregnancy is best understood when the basic concepts, functional characteristics, and alterations in pregnancy are reviewed.

Obstetric comorbidity index and the odds of general vs. neuraxial anesthesia in women undergoing cesarean delivery: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Maternal and fetal concerns have prompted a significant reduction in general anesthesia (GA) use for cesarean delivery (CD). The obstetric comorbidity index (OB-CMI) is a validated, dynamic composite score of comorbidities encountered in an obstetric patient. We sought to estimate the association between OB-CMI and odds of GA vs. neuraxial anesthesia (NA) use for CD. METHODS: In this single-center, retrospective cohort study conducted at a large academic hospital in the United States of America, OB-CMI was calculated on admission and every 12 h for women undergoing CD at ≥23 weeks' gestation (n=928). The CD urgency, anesthesia type, and most recent OB-CMI were extracted from the medical record. The association between OB-CMI and GA use was estimated by logistic regression, with and without adjustment for CD urgency, parity and race. RESULTS: Each one-point increase in OB-CMI was associated with a 32% (95% confidence interval [CI] 17% to 48%) increase in the odds of GA use (Model 1, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC] 0.708, 95% CI 0.610 to 0.805). The AUC improved to 0.876 (95% CI 0.815 to 0.937) with the addition of emergent CD (Model 2, P <0.001 vs. Model 1), but not parity and race (Model 3, AUC 0.880, 95% CI 0.824 to 0.935; P=0.616 vs. Model 2). CONCLUSIONS: The OB-CMI is associated with increased odds of GA vs. NA use for CD, particularly when emergent. Collected in real time, the OB-CMI may enable prophylaxis (e.g. comorbidity modification, earlier epidural catheter placement, elective CD) or preparation for GA use.

A cluster quasi-randomized controlled trial of an interactive, monthly obstetric anesthesiology curriculum: impact on resident satisfaction and knowledge retention.

BACKGROUND: Increasingly, evidence supports the use of educational paradigms that focus on teacher-learner interaction and learner engagement. We redesigned our monthly obstetric anesthesia resident didactics from a lecture-based curriculum to an interactive format including problem-based learning, case discussion, question/answer sessions, and simulation. We hypothesized that the new curriculum would improve resident satisfaction with the educational experience, satisfaction with the rotation, and knowledge retention. METHODS: Fifty-three anesthesiology residents were prospectively recruited and quasi-randomized through an alternating-month pattern to attend either interactive sessions or traditional lectures. Residents completed a daily satisfaction survey about quality of teaching sessions and a comprehensive satisfaction survey at the conclusion of the rotation. Knowledge retention was assessed with a knowledge test completed on the final day. The primary outcome was daily satisfaction with the curriculum, and secondary outcomes included overall satisfaction with the curriculum, overall rotation satisfaction, and within-resident difference between pre- and post-knowledge test scores. RESULTS: No differences were observed in daily resident satisfaction after interactive sessions vs traditional lectures. Furthermore, no differences were observed between the interactive sessions and traditional lecture groups in overall satisfaction with the curriculum, overall satisfaction with the entire rotation or within-resident difference between pre- and post-knowledge test scores. CONCLUSIONS: Our study failed to demonstrate improvement in resident satisfaction or knowledge retention following implementation of an interactive curriculum on a month-long obstetric anesthesia rotation. Reasons may include misalignment of the intervention with measured study outcomes, lack of sensitivity of the survey tools, and inadequate training of faculty presenters.

Placental growth factor in the cerebrospinal fluid of women with preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVE: Recent data suggest that excess circulating soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) may causally relate to preeclampsia. This study investigates the levels of sFlt-1, VEGF, and PlGF in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with preeclampsia and normotensive controls. METHODS: CSF was collected from preeclamptic patients (n=15) and controls (n=7) at the time of spinal anesthesia and assayed for PlGF, sFlt-1, and VEGF (total and free) by specific immunoassays. RESULTS: All sought angiogenic factors were measurable. Levels of free PlGF but not sFlt-1 or VEGF (total or free) were increased in CSF of preeclamptic women. There was no significant difference in the ratios of angiogenic factors in the CSF of women with preeclampsia. There was no correlation between levels of angiogenic factors and CSF cell counts or severity of symptoms. CONCLUSION: Elevated levels of PlGF in CSF preeclamptic women may promote vascular permeability and contribute to the hypertensive encephalopathy seen in such patients.

Resident training in obstetric anesthesia in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Limited information exists on obstetric anesthesia experience and training within residency training programs in the United States. METHODS: A survey was sent to every academic anesthesiology training program in the United States (n=120), with follow-up reminders to non-responders. The survey included 14 questions divided into staffing, didactic teaching and epidemiology regarding the practice of obstetric anesthesia at each academic institution. RESULTS: A response rate of 78% (93/120) was achieved. The returned surveys were grouped into three tiers by the number of deliveries/year from the lowest (Group 1) to the highest (Group 3). The total number of obstetric deliveries at each institution ranged from 340 to 15 800. The average number of residents/month rotating on obstetric anesthesia was 2.6 and the number of months spent on the obstetric anesthesia service was 2.7. The average number of obstetric anesthesia lectures given was 12 per month. A total of 21.5 obstetric anesthesia fellows were reported to train at these institutions, with fellows being more common in larger institutions. Group 1 institutions were more likely to have anesthesiologists covering the main operating room and obstetric suite simultaneously. The average number of obstetric anesthesia staff members/institution was 4.3. The average cesarean section rate was 27.8%, with 5.8% being performed under general anesthesia. Neuraxial techniques were used in an average of 70.3% of laboring parturients, with combined spinal epidurals accounting for 24.6% of the techniques. CONCLUSION: The average number of obstetric deliveries per year for institutions with a resident training program was 3498+/-2383. Dedicated obstetric anesthesia staffing was more common when >3700 deliveries/year were performed; the presence of this staffing corresponded with a reduction in the use of general anesthesia for cesarean deliveries. Few differences in the resident lecture didactic exposure were observed in terms of numbers of lectures and months on the obstetric anesthesia service, although a significantly greater number of clinical cases was available to each resident in those institutions with greater overall numbers of obstetric cases.

Cytokines in the perinatal period - Part I.

Successful pregnancy requires a state of immune homeostasis. Maternal tolerance of the genetically distinct fetoplacental unit is in part mediated by maternal and fetal pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines; these cytokines have also been implicated in different pregnancy-related pathologic states. This two-part series seeks to provide anesthesiologists with an overview on selected perinatal cytokines in an effort to identify opportunities for research and improvements in clinical care. In part one, we review basic and pregnancy-related elements of the immune system, with an emphasis on the role of cytokines. From this foundation, we offer a perspective of a unique phenomenon witnessed within obstetric anesthesia - maternal temperature elevation associated with labor epidural analgesia.

Cytokines in the perinatal period - Part II.

A contemporary, robust immunologic explanation for common obstetric conditions remains elusive; why some pregnant women are more susceptible to developing preeclampsia or preterm labor is not completely understood. We explore the immunology behind four important and commonly encountered pregnancy-related conditions: preeclampsia, recurrent miscarriage, preterm labor and gestational diabetes. For each condition, we summarize the current understanding of cytokines implicated in the pathogenesis, discuss the impact of anesthesia and analgesia on selected cytokine profiles, and suggest potential opportunities for clinical and research interventions.

Effect of neuraxial technique after inadvertent dural puncture on obstetric outcomes and anesthetic complications.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate labor and delivery outcomes in parturients with inadvertent dural puncture managed by either insertion of an intrathecal catheter or a resited epidural catheter. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort review of 235 parturients who had an inadvertent dural puncture during epidural placement over a six-year period. The primary outcome was the proportion of women with a delayed second stage of labor. Secondary outcomes were the proportion of cesarean deliveries, the proportion of cases resulting in post-dural puncture headache, and the incidence of failed labor analgesia. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics such as age, body mass index and parity were similar between the two groups. Among the 236 cases of inadvertent dural puncture, 173 women (73%) had an intrathecal catheter placed while 63 women (27%) had the epidural catheter resited. Comparing intrathecal with epidural catheters, there was no observed difference in the proportion of cases of prolonged second stage of labor (13% vs. 16%, P=0.57) and the overall rate of cesarean deliveries (17% vs. 16%, P=0.78). However, we observed a lower rate of post-dural puncture headache in women who had cesarean delivery compared to vaginal delivery (53% vs. 74%, P=0.007). A greater proportion of failed labor analgesia was observed in the intrathecal catheter group (14% vs. 2%, P=0.005). CONCLUSION: The choice of neuraxial technique following inadvertent dural puncture does not appear to alter the course of labor and delivery. Cesarean delivery decreased the incidence of post-dural puncture headache by 35%. Intrathecal catheters were associated with a higher rate of failed analgesia.

What's new and novel in obstetric anesthesia? Contributions from the 2003 scientific literature.

THE PREGNANT PATIENT: Age; maternal disease; prophylactic antibiotics; gastroesophageal reflux; obesity; starvation; genotyping; coagulopathy; infection; substance abuse; altered drug responses in pregnancy; physiological changes of pregnancy. THE FETUS: Fetal monitoring; intrauterine surgery. THE NEWBORN: Breastfeeding; maternal infection, fever, and neonatal sepsis evaluation. OBSTETRIC COMPLICATIONS: Embolic phenomena; hemorrhage; preeclampsia; preterm delivery. OBSTETRIC MANAGEMENT: External cephalic version and cervical cerclage; elective cesarean delivery; fetal malpresentation; vaginal birth after cesarean delivery; termination of pregnancy. OBSTETRIC ANESTHESIA: Analgesia for labor and delivery; anesthesia for cesarean delivery; anesthesia for short obstetric operations; complications of anesthesia. MISCELLANEOUS: Consent; ethics; history; labor support; websites/books/leaflets/journal announcements.

Hemodynamic effects of spinal anesthesia and simultaneous intravenous bolus of combined phenylephrine and ephedrine versus ephedrine for cesarean delivery.

BACKGROUND: Hypotension following spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery can produce adverse maternal symptoms and neonatal acid-base effects. Single-agent prophylaxis, most notably with ephedrine, does not reliably prevent spinal anesthesia-induced hypotension; recently, however, the prophylactic use of phenylephrine with ephedrine as an infusion was observed to be effective. We postulated that this combination, when given as an intravenous bolus for prophylaxis and rescue treatment, could be similarly effective. METHOD: Forty-three term parturients were randomized to receive a bolus of ephedrine 10 mg +/- phenylephrine 40 microg (groups E and EP, respectively) simultaneously with spinal anesthesia. Hypotension was defined as a systolic blood pressure below 100 mmHg or a decrease of 20% from a baseline value. Rescue boluses comprised of ephedrine 5 mg +/- phenylephrine 20 microg. RESULTS: For groups E and EP, respectively, the incidence of hypotension was 80% vs. 95% (P=0.339), with the mean number of rescue boluses being 3.85+/-3.7 and 3.05+/-1.7 and the mean umbilical artery pH being 7.246+/-0.081 vs. 7.244+/-0.106. All comparisons were not significant (NS). CONCLUSION: The combination of ephedrine and phenylephrine given as an intravenous bolus at the doses selected is not superior to ephedrine alone in preventing or treating hypotension in healthy parturients undergoing cesarean delivery.

The effect of bupivacaine with fentanyl temperature on initiation and maintenance of labor epidural analgesia: a randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Labor epidural analgesia is highly effective, but can be limited by slow onset and incomplete blockade. The administration of warmed, compared to room temperature, bupivacaine has resulted in more rapid onset epidural anesthesia. We hypothesized that the administration of bupivacaine with fentanyl at 37°C versus 20°C would result in improved initial and ongoing labor epidural analgesia. METHODS: In this prospective, randomized, doubled blinded study, 54 nulliparous, laboring women were randomized to receive epidural bupivacaine 0.125% with fentanyl 2 µg/mL (20 mL initial and 6 mL hourly boluses) at either 37°C or 20°C. Pain verbal rating scores (VRS), sensory level, oral temperature, and side effects were assessed after epidural loading (time 0), at 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 60 min, and at hourly intervals. The primary outcome was the time to achieve initial satisfactory analgesia (VRS ⩽3). Secondary outcomes included ongoing quality of sensory blockade, body temperature and shivering. RESULTS: There were no differences between groups in patient demographics, initial pain scores, cervical dilatation, body temperature or mode of delivery. Epidural bupivacaine at 37°C resulted in shorter mean (±SD) analgesic onset time (9.2±4.7 vs. 16.0±10.5 min, P=0.005) and improved analgesia for the first 15 min after initial bolus (P=0.001-0.03). Although patient temperature increased during the study (P<0.01), there were no differences between the groups (P=0.09). Six (24%) and 10 (40%) patients experienced shivering in the 37°C and 20°C groups, respectively (P=0.23). CONCLUSIONS: The administration of epidural 0.125% bupivacaine with fentanyl 2µg/mL at 37°C versus 20°C resulted in more rapid onset and improved labor analgesia for the first 15 min. There was no evidence of improved ongoing labor analgesia or differences in side effects between groups.

Differences between anticipated and perceived difficulty and insertion duration of labor epidural techniques among anesthesiologists, nurses and patients.

BACKGROUND: Difficulty with the labor epidural technique has been described using a variety of criteria, but remains inadequately defined. We sought to determine the reasons cited for difficulty with the insertion of labor epidural techniques among anesthesiologists, nurses, and patients. We hypothesized that the perception of procedural difficulty would correlate among participants and with the elapsed duration of the insertion attempt. METHODS: A total of 140 participant sets (i.e. anesthesiologist, nurse and patient) were asked to complete a questionnaire on procedural difficulty, immediately before (i.e. anticipated) and after (i.e. perceived) a standardized epidural technique. Procedural duration, using specified start and end times, was recorded in seconds by an independent co-investigator. Demographic data for all groups were recorded. RESULTS: Perceived difficulty with the epidural technique was similar among all groups (range 10-14%; P=0.29) and correlated with anticipated difficulty (anesthesiologist P=0.0004; nurse P=0.00001; patients P=0.006) and procedural duration (all groups P <0.001). The most common reasons cited for perceived difficulty were procedural duration (anesthesiologist P=0.58), number of attempts (nurse P=0.02), and pain experienced (patient P=0.035). CONCLUSIONS: Difficulty with the epidural technique is associated with anticipated difficulty and procedural duration. The reasons for perceived difficulty differ among anesthesiologists, nurses and obstetric patients, with patients most commonly citing pain experienced.