Mechanisms of atrial fibrillation in athletes: what we know and what we do not know.

Exercise is an emerging cause of atrial fibrillation (AF) in young individuals without coexisting cardiovascular risk factors. The causes of exercise-induced atrial fibrillation remain largely unknown, and conclusions are jeopardised by apparently conflicting data. Some components of the athlete's heart are known to be arrhythmogenic in other settings. Bradycardia, atrial dilatation and, possibly, atrial premature beats are therefore biologically plausible contributors to exercise-induced AF. Challenging findings in an animal model suggest that exercise might also prompt the development of atrial fibrosis, possibly due to cumulative minor structural damage after each exercise bout. However, there is very limited, indirect data supporting this hypothesis in athletes. Age, sex, the presence of comorbidities and cardiovascular risk factors, and genetic individual variability might serve to flag those athletes who are at the higher risk of exercise-induced AF. In this review, we will critically address current knowledge on the mechanisms of exercise-induced AF.

Massive obstetric hemorrhage: Current approach to management. / Hemorragia masiva obstétrica: enfoque terapéutico actual.

Massive obstetric hemorrhage is a major cause of maternal mortality and morbidity worldwide. It is defined (among others) as the loss of>2,500ml of blood, and is associated to a need for admission to critical care and/or hysterectomy. The relative hemodilution and high cardiac output found in normal pregnancy allows substantial bleeding before a drop in hemoglobin and/or hematocrit can be identified. Some comorbidities associated with pregnancy can contribute to the occurrence of catastrophic bleeding with consumption coagulopathy, which makes the situation even worse. Optimization, preparation, rational use of resources and protocolization of actions are often useful to improve outcomes in patients with postpartum hemorrhage. Using massive obstetric hemorrhage protocols is useful for facilitating rapid transfusion if needed, and can also be cost-effective. If hypofibrinogenemia during the bleeding episode is identified, early fibrinogen administration can be very useful. Other coagulation factors in addition to fibrinogen may be necessary during postpartum hemorrhage replacement measures in order to effectively correct coagulopathy. A hysterectomy is recommended if the medical and surgical measures prove ineffective.

Multidisciplinary consensus document on the management of massive haemorrhage (HEMOMAS document).

Massive haemorrhage is common and often associated with high morbidity and mortality. We perform a systematic review of the literature, with extraction of the recommendations from the existing evidences because of the need for its improvement and the management standardization. From the results we found, we wrote a multidisciplinary consensus document. We begin with the agreement in the definitions of massive haemorrhage and massive transfusion, and we do structured recommendations on their general management (clinical assessment of bleeding, hypothermia management, fluid therapy, hypotensive resuscitation and damage control surgery), blood volume monitoring, blood products transfusion (red blood cells, fresh frozen plasma, platelets and their best transfusion ratio), and administration of hemostatic components (prothrombin complex, fibrinogen, factor VIIa, antifibrinolytic agents).

Obstetric anaesthesia manpower and service provision issues (introduction and European perspective).

Global health is an important and far-reaching concept in which health and access to surgical and anaesthetic care is crucial. Universal access to anaesthesia is a challenge in many countries. Manpower shortages are an important cause of difficulties and each European country has found different ways of facing a lack of healthcare professionals. In obstetric anaesthesia, the availability of competent anaesthesiologists has been related to the morbidity and mortality outcomes of patients. In this narrative review, authors from different European countries explain how manpower is managed in obstetric anaesthesia in delivery suites and obstetric operating rooms in different settings. To address manpower difficulties and issues, the goals are to achieve a minimum standard of care and at the same time, to promote clinical excellence through training, delegation to younger or less experienced colleagues, direct or at-a-distance supervision, or other means. The experience of sharing knowledge about the way in which manpower and service provision are organised in other healthcare settings is a significant opportunity to develop strategies for advancing tomorrow's obstetric anaesthesia in the world. While taking into account the level of socio-economic development in different countries, the aim is to standardise practice and workload organisation. Co-operative international projects in training and education in obstetric anaesthesia are ways in which better obstetric patient care can be achieved in the future.

Global issues in obstetric anaesthesia: perspectives from South Africa, Japan, China, Latin America and North America.

South Africa is classified as a low- and middle-income country, with a complex mixture of resource-rich and resource-limited settings. In the major referral hospitals, the necessary skill level exists for the management of complex challenges. However, this contrasts with the frequently-inadequate skill levels of anaesthesia practitioners in resource-limited environments. In Japan, obstetricians administer anaesthesia for 40% of caesarean deliveries and 80% of labour analgesia. Centralisation of delivery facilities is now occurring and it is expected that obstetric anaesthesiologists will be available 24 h a day in centralised facilities in the future. In China, improvements in women's reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child, and adolescent health are critical government policies. Obstetric anaesthesia, especially labour analgesia, has received unprecedented attention. Chinese obstetric anaesthesiologists are passionate about clinical research, focusing on efficacy, safety, and topical issues. The Latin-American region has different landscapes, people, languages, and cultures, and is one of the world's regions with the most inequality. There are large gaps in research, knowledge, and health services, and the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists is committed to working with governmental and non-governmental organisations to improve patient care and access to safe anaesthesia. Anaesthesia workforce challenges, exacerbated by coronavirus disease 2019, beset North American healthcare. Pre-existing struggles by governments and decision-makers to improve health care access remain, partly due to unfamiliarity with the role of the anaesthesiologist. In addition to weaknesses in work environments and dated standards of work culture, the work-life balance demanded by new generations of anaesthesiologists must be acknowledged.

[General anaesthesia and obstetric bleeding in caesarean section. One year's experience in a university hospital]. / Anestesia general y hemorragia obstétrica con transfusión en la cesárea. Experiencia durante un año en un hospital universitario.

INTRODUCTION: Obstetric haemorrhage is an important worldwide cause of morbidity and mortality. General anaesthesia for caesarean section is rarely used. Our goal is to analyse the incidence, causes and risk factors associated with general anaesthesia for caesarean section, and the prevalence of obstetric haemorrhage (HO), its risk factors and predictors of post-caesarean HO together with the use of blood in our hospital population. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on all caesarean section discharge reports from PACU in 2008. RESULTS: General anaesthesia was required in 12.4% of the patients. Epidural catheter failure as a cause of general anaesthesia was infrequent (2.8%) and within the recommended standards. CONCLUSIONS: The most frequent indications for caesarean section under general anaesthesia included mainly life-threatening emergencies, and the most important risk factors for general anaesthesia, including coagulation disorders, bleeding in the third trimester, foetal distress and severe pre-eclampsia. General anaesthesia is a risk factor for transfusion, as is abruptio placentae, placenta previa and pre-eclampsia.

Smartphone and wearable detected atrial arrhythmias in Older Adults: Results of a fully digital European Case finding study.

Aims: Simplified detection of atrial arrhythmias via consumer-electronics would enable earlier therapy in at-risk populations. Whether this is feasible and effective in older populations is not known. Methods and results: The fully remote, investigator-initiated Smartphone and wearable detected atrial arrhythmia in Older Adults Case finding study (Smart in OAC-AFNET 9) digitally enrolled participants ≥65 years without known atrial fibrillation, not receiving oral anticoagulation in Germany, Poland, and Spain for 8 weeks. Participants were invited by media communications and direct contacts. Study procedures adhered to European data protection. Consenting participants received a wristband with a photoplethysmography sensor to be coupled to their smartphone. The primary outcome was the detection of atrial arrhythmias lasting 6 min or longer in the first 4 weeks of monitoring. Eight hundred and eighty-two older persons (age 71 ± 5 years, range 65-90, 500 (57%) women, 414 (47%) hypertension, and 97 (11%) diabetes) recorded signals. Most participants (72%) responded to adverts or word of mouth, leaflets (11%) or general practitioners (9%). Participation was completely remote in 469/882 persons (53%). During the first 4 weeks, participants transmitted PPG signals for 533/696 h (77% of the maximum possible time). Atrial arrhythmias were detected in 44 participants (5%) within 28 days, and in 53 (6%) within 8 weeks. Detection was highest in the first monitoring week [incidence rates: 1st week: 3.4% (95% confidence interval 2.4-4.9); 2nd-4th week: 0.55% (0.33-0.93)]. Conclusion: Remote, digitally supported consumer-electronics-based screening is feasible in older European adults and identifies atrial arrhythmias in 5% of participants within 4 weeks of monitoring (NCT04579159).

Remote Design of a Smartphone and Wearable Detected Atrial Arrhythmia in Older Adults Case Finding Study: Smart in OAC - AFNET 9.

Introduction: Screening for atrial fibrillation and timely initiation of oral anticoagulation, rhythm management, and treatment of concomitant cardiovascular conditions can improve outcomes in high-risk populations. Whether wearables can facilitate screening in older adults is not known. Methods and Analyses: The multicenter, international, investigator-initiated, single-arm case-finding Smartphone and wearable detected atrial arrhythmia in older adults case finding study (Smart in OAC - AFNET 9) evaluates the diagnostic yield of a validated, cloud-based analysis algorithm detecting atrial arrhythmias via a signal acquired by a smartphone-coupled wristband monitoring system in older adults. Unselected participants aged ≥65 years without known atrial fibrillation and not receiving oral anticoagulation are enrolled in three European countries. Participants undergo continuous pulse monitoring using a wristband with a photo plethysmography (PPG) sensor and a telecare analytic service. Participants with PPG-detected atrial arrhythmias will be offered ECG loop monitoring. The study has a virtual design with digital consent and teleconsultations, whilst including hybrid solutions. Primary outcome is the proportion of older adults with newly detected atrial arrhythmias (NCT04579159). Discussion: Smart in OAC - AFNET 9 will provide information on wearable-based screening for PPG-detected atrial arrhythmias in Europe and provide an estimate of the prevalence of atrial arrhythmias in an unselected population of older adults.

[Estimating the angle of left lateral decubitus position during cesarean section: observational study of anesthesiologists' estimates and of midwives and nurses' level of understanding]. / Estimación del decúbito lateral en cesáreas: estudio observacional entre anestesiólogos y conocimiento de matronas y personal de enfermería obstétrica.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the difference between the estimated and measured values of the left lateral decubitus (LLD) angle in the positioning of patients for scheduled cesarean section; to determine whether the accuracy of estimates differs between staff anesthesiologists and residents; and to assess the angle estimates of midwives and surgical nurses as well as their level of knowledge with respect to the utility of the LLD position. METHODS: This was a prospective, observational, double-blind study comparing staff anesthesiologists working in obstetrics to residents in their second, third, or fourth-year of training. We also presented a task and questions to midwives and surgical nurses who assisted during categories 3 and 4 cesarean sections (elective and scheduled procedures) according to the classification system of he National Institute of Clinical Excellence. The anesthesiologist was asked to place the patient in LLD position after onset of anesthesia and to estimate the LLD angle. A second anesthesiologist measured the angle. The midwives and nurses were asked to place a vacant surgical table at approximately 15 degrees; the angle was then measured. Patient variables (weight, height, anesthetic technique) and staff variables (position, understanding of the purpose of the maneuver, estimated DLL angle, and measured angle) were recorded. RESULTS: Of 55 women who underwent cesarean sections (98.18% under regional anesthesia), 25 were assessed by staff anesthesiologists and 30 by residents. A total of 14 midwives and 10 surgical nurses participated in the surgical table positioning task and answered questions. The mean (SD) DLL angle estimate of the anesthesiologists was 12.4 degrees (3.4 degrees); the mean measured angle was 7.8 degrees (3.1 degrees). The estimates of staff anesthesiologists were significantly more accurate (P < .001). All the midwives understood the reason for using the DLL position in cesarean section, while only 1 nurse (10%) did (P < .05). CONCLUSION: The DLL position angle is overestimated by resident anesthesiologists and midwives. It seems that the use and understanding of DLL positioning could be improved.

[Maternal hypotension with low doses of spinal bupivacaine or levobupivacaine and epidural volume expansion with saline for cesarean section]. / Hipotensión arterial materna con dosis bajas de bupi y levo- bupivacaína intradural para cesárea más extensión epidural con salino.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Epidural volume extension (EVE) with saline solution can contribute to greater cephalad spread of drugs injected into the subarachnoid space during cesarean section. We studied the incidence of material hypotension with spinal bupivacaine or levobupivacaine (L-bupivacaine) and the spread after epidural saline injection. MATERIAL AND METHODS: After ethics committee approval, we randomized women scheduled for cesarean section to 4 groups to receive 5 mg of 0.25% bupivacaine with (n=51) or without (n=6) saline EVE; 5 mg of 025% L-bupivacaine (n=50); or 6 mg of 03% L-bupivacaine (n=50). All patients also received 25 microg of fentanyl per 2 mL of local hyperbaric spinal anesthetic. In all except the non-EVE group, 10 mL of saline was infused through an epidural catheter 5 minutes after anesthetic infusion. We recorded patient demographic data, procedural and anesthetic times, incision-clamping times, occurrence of hypotension, ephedrine dose required, motor and sensory blockade, requirement for rescue analgesics, and neonatal outcome. RESULTS: After 6 patients had been randomized to the non-EVE group, no further patients were assigned because all the women required rescue analgesics. Demographic data, duration of procedure, time between. incision and delivery, and Apgar scores were similar in all the groups. The incidence of hypotension was lower in the group receiving 5 mg of L-bupivacaine (26% vs. 52.9% in the bupivacaine 5-mg group, and 56% in the 6-mg L-bupivacaine group, P = .04). More women given 5 mg of L-bupivacaine required rescue analgesia (46%) than did those receiving 5 mg of bupivacaine (235%) or 6 mg of L-bupivacaine (28%) (P = .039). Hypotension was associated with a lower umbilical cord pH (P = .001). Ephedrine doses over 20 mg were also associated with a lower umbilical cord pH (P = .031). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of hypotension was lowest in the group anesthetized with 5 mg of L-bupivacaine, but the need for rescue analgesia was greater in this group. Doses of 5 mg and 6 mg may be sufficient for cesarean section, as they provide a good level of sensory blockade.

[Monitoring skill acquisition in obstetric epidural puncture at a university hospital using the cumulative sum method]. / Metodología CUSUM en la curva de aprendizaje de la punción epidural obstétrica en un hospital universitario.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Skill acquisition in anesthesiology is subject to a great deal of interindividual variability. Our aim was to develop and test an individualized tool for monitoring acquisition of technical skills based on the cumulative sum (CUSUM) approach. This system objectively assesses whether an individual has acquired a minimum skill level and identifies the moment when the skill has been learned. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Nine third-year residents in anesthesiology and postoperative recovery care participated. The residents anonymously recorded their first 100 obstetric epidural analgesia procedures in a database. The data were then analyzed with the CUSUM method. We considered acceptable skill acquisition to be reflected by a first-attempt success rate of 80% and a rate of success with help of 20%. RESULTS: A total of 765 epidural blocks were analyzed, giving a mean (SD) of 84.7 (2.8) procedures per resident (range, 47-100 procedures per resident). Seven residents became competent with the skill after 23 procedures and 2 residents were not successful in learning the skill. At the end of the study, 3 residents had required help with more than 20% of the procedures. Data collection from the trainees seemed to vary, leading to possible under- or overestimation of failures and/or need for help. Accidental dural puncture occurred 6 times (0.78%) and blood vessel puncture 40 times (5.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Although some third-year residents reach the targeted rate of success quickly, we believe that close supervision is useful to control progress along the learning curve for individuals who need more help.

Practical recommendations in the obstetrical patient with a COVID-19 infection. / Recomendaciones prácticas en la paciente obstétrica con infección por COVID-19.

COVID-19 infection also affects obstetric patients. Regular obstetric care has continued despite the pandemic. Case series of obstetric patients have been published. Neuroaxial techniques appear to be safe and it is important to obtain the highest possible rate of success of the blocks before a cesarean section. For this reason, it is recommended that the blocks be carried out by senior anesthesiologists. The protection and safety of professionals is a key point and in case of general anesthesia, so it is also recommended to call to the most expert anesthesiologist. Seriously ill patients should be recognized quickly and early, in order to provide them with the appropriate treatment as soon as possible. Susceptibility to thrombosis makes prophylactic anticoagulation a priority.

JavaCyte, a novel open-source tool for automated quantification of key hallmarks of cardiac structural remodeling.

Many cardiac pathologies involve changes in tissue structure. Conventional analysis of structural features is extremely time-consuming and subject to observer bias. The possibility to determine spatial interrelations between these features is often not fully exploited. We developed a staining protocol and an ImageJ-based tool (JavaCyte) for automated histological analysis of cardiac structure, including quantification of cardiomyocyte size, overall and endomysial fibrosis, spatial patterns of endomysial fibrosis, fibroblast density, capillary density and capillary size. This automated analysis was compared to manual quantification in several well-characterized goat models of atrial fibrillation (AF). In addition, we tested inter-observer variability in atrial biopsies from the CATCH-ME consortium atrial tissue bank, with patients stratified by their cardiovascular risk profile for structural remodeling. We were able to reproduce previous manually derived histological findings in goat models for AF and AV block (AVB) using JavaCyte. Furthermore, strong correlation was found between manual and automated observations for myocyte count (r = 0.94, p < 0.001), myocyte diameter (r = 0.97, p < 0.001), endomysial fibrosis (r = 0.98, p < 0.001) and capillary count (r = 0.95, p < 0.001) in human biopsies. No significant variation between observers was observed (ICC = 0.89, p < 0.001). We developed and validated an open-source tool for high-throughput, automated histological analysis of cardiac tissue properties. JavaCyte was as accurate as manual measurements, with less inter-observer variability and faster throughput.

[Failure of extension of epidural analgesia to anesthesia for emergency cesarean section]. / Fallo en la conversión de la analgesia epidural en anestesia epidural quirúrgica cuando se indica cesárea urgente.

Epidural analgesia provides effective control of labor pain and allows emergency cesarean section to be performed without recourse to general anesthesia. This technique is subject to failure, however. We sought to determine the incidence of failure of extension of epidural analgesia for labor to epidural anesthesia for emergency cesarean section. We also analyzed possible risk factors for failure. A 2-month observational study was carried out in a tertiary-care university hospital in patients who had an epidural catheter inserted for labor analgesia and who later underwent emergency cesarean section. Epidural catheter failure was defined if additional analgesia was required during surgery or if general anesthesia was required. Data were gathered on possible risk factors, such as obesity, difficult epidural puncture, leakage of blood on insertion, history of cesarean delivery, need for rescue analgesia, and level of satisfaction with analgesia during dilation. In total, 134 emergency cesareans were performed in women carrying an epidural catheter. The catheter failed to administer the anesthetic in 18 patients (13.4%). General anesthesia was required in 9 cases (6.7%). Difficult insertion (more than 2 attempts) was associated with a higher failure rate (P=.064). The relative risk of epidural catheter failure was 2.86-fold higher when rescue analgesia was needed during delivery than in cases when no supplement was required (P=.021). Receiving adequate analgesia during labor seems to be a protective factor (80%) against anesthetic catheter failure during cesarean section (P=.01). We conclude that high demand for rescue analgesia and signs of inadequate analgesia during labor should warn of epidural catheter failure if extension to anesthesia becomes necessary for a cesarean delivery.

[Postpartum hemorrhage: an observational study of 21,726 deliveries in 28 months]. / Hemorragia obstétrica: estudio observacional sobre 21.726 partos en 28 meses.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the management of severe postpartum hemorrhage. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective observational study from July 2005 to November 2007 in women who were admitted to the recovery unit of a tertiary referral hospital due to postpartum hemorrhage. We analyzed incidence, prevalence, morbidity, mortality, and associated risk factors. RESULTS: The study included 21,726 deliveries (124 with severe bleeding). Postpartum hemorrhage was more common after an instrumental delivery (odds ratio [OR], 4.54) and after a cesarean delivery (OR, 2.86). The risk factors identified in the study population were multiple gestation pregnancy and fetal death. One patient died due to disseminated intravascular coagulation. The main causes of bleeding were uterine atony (45.2%) followed by vaginal tearing (26.6%). Treatment was provided using packed red blood cells in 96.8% of the patients, fibrinogen in 49.2%, prothrombin complex in 7.25% and activated factor VII in 3.2%. Selective arterial embolization was performed in 10.5% of the cases (success rate, 84.6%) and hysterectomy was required in 13.7%. The main complications were need for postoperative mechanical ventilation (11.3%), myocardial ischemia (4%), pulmonary edema (4.8%), acute renal failure (8.9%), ventricular fibrillation (0.8%), and death (0.8%). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of severe postpartum hemorrhage in patients treated at our hospital is low, as is the mortality rate. Use of fibrinogen is common and provides good results. Angiographic embolization is very effective, though the percentage of hysterectomies is still high. Multiple gestation pregnancy and fetal death are associated risk factors.

[Assessment of agreement between anesthesiologists' location of anatomical landmarks]. / Evaluación de la concordancia en la localización de los puntos anatómicos de referencia por los anestesiólogos.

OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this study was to evaluate agreement between anesthesiologists' location of specific anatomical landmarks in regional anesthesia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We administered an anonymous written questionnaire asking for the location of the T5 and T10 dermatomes, Tuffier's line (L3-L4 space), and the T7-T8 and C6-C7 spaces on an anatomical drawing. We asked about each anesthesiologist's number of years of experience and type of block most commonly performed and in what type of surgery, number of blocks performed per year, whether or not levels of sensory and motor blocks were assessed, and whether training had been received. Relative frequencies were then calculated. The relationships between years of experience and number of blocks performed and number of correct identifications of anatomical points were analyzed using the chi2 test. RESULTS: We studied 100 doctors (66 residents and 24 staff anesthesiologists). The landmark for which agreement was highest was T10 (91.8%); agreement was lowest for T5 (38.1%). Forty-five percent of anesthesiologists performed between 100 and 250 neuraxial blocks per year. The most commonly performed procedure was a lumbar block (98% of the anesthesiologists). Level of sensory block was evaluated by 95% of the respondents and level of motor block by 83%. Response to heat and cold was used by 94.8%; the Bromage scale was used by 81%. The number of years of experience and the number of correctly located points appeared to be unrelated (P=.76). Nor was there a correlation between the number of blocks performed and number of correctly located points (P=.2). CONCLUSIONS: T10 was the landmark correctly identified by the largest number of respondents; T5 was correctly identified by the fewest respondents, with answers differing by as much as 4 dermatomes.

Edgar Alexander Pask (1912-1966). Sus contribuciones científicas durante la segunda guerra mundial y en la Universidad De Newcastle Upon Tyne / Edgar Alexander Pask (1912-1966). His Scientific Contributions During The Second World War And In Newcastle Upon Tyne University

Edgar Alexander Pask Catedrático de Anestesiología de la Universidad de Newcastle upon Tyne realizó importantes auto-experimentos durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial. Aportamos datos biográficos y su currículo científico. Trabajó en el Departamento Nuffield de Anestesia de Oxford con el Profesor Sir Robert Macintosh. Permitió ser anestesiado en múltiples ocasiones con éter durantela realización de estas investigaciones en el Centro de Fisiología de la RAF en Farnborough. Estudio de los efectos de la hipoxia endescensos en paracaídas, estudio de la eficacia de las distintas técnica de ventilación artificial, estudio de la eficacia de los distintossalvavidas. Después de la Segunda Guerra Mundial sus contribuciones científicas estuvieron relacionadas con la fisiología respiratoria, la monitorización, mortalidad e infecciones. Desarrolló aparatos de ventilación artificial, monitores de determinación de gasesarteriales y anestésicos. En su honor, la Asociación de Anestesistas de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda creó la Medalla Pask. (AU)

Edgar Alexander Pask Professor of Anaesthesia at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne performed self-experiments during the Second World War. We describe his scientific curriculum vitae and biographical data. He worked in the Nuffield Department of Anaesthesia in Oxford with Professor sir Robert Macintosh. He allowed himself to be anaesthetized with ether on many occasions duringthese experiments in the Physiological Laboratory, RAF Research Station in Farnborough. His research was: Studies of breathingin high altitude descend with a parachute in hypoxemia, study of the efficacy of different methods of artificial respiration, testingof life jackets. After the Second World War his scientific reports were related with respiratory physiology, monitoring, mortality andinfections. He developed ventilators, monitoring equipment of arterial blood gases and anaesthetic drugs. In his honour Pask Medalof the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland was established. (AU)

[Difficulty of epidural puncture for obstetric analgesia: risk factors]. / Factores asociados a la dificultad de punción epidural en analgesia obstétrica.

INTRODUCTION: Predicting technical difficulties in performing an epidural block can affect the anesthesiologist's choice of technique or decisions about who should carry it out. Our aim was to determine patient characteristics associated with difficulty in performing an epidural block for obstetric analgesia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We designed a prospective observational study in 540 pregnant women who requested epidural analgesia for obstetric labor. Patient characteristics (age, weight, height), anatomical features (body constitution, visible and/or palpable spinal apophyses, structural anomalies), technical features (number of attempts, repositioning of the needle), anesthesiologist's experience (resident or staff), block success, time taken to accomplish the procedure, and obstetrical variables (parity, gestational age, cervical dilatation). RESULTS: The factor that best correlates with puncture difficulty in the obstetric patient is the presence of visible or palpable spinal apophyses and palpation prior to carrying out the block. Factors like weight, body constitution, or anesthesiologist's experience seem to influence the rate of success or failure of the epidural block for obstetric analgesia, although to a lesser degree. CONCLUSIONS: The most important factor for predicting success of an epidural block for obstetric analgesia in our practice is the presence of palpable spinal apophyses.