Elevated fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor, and Factor VIII confer resistance to dilutional coagulopathy and activated protein C in normal pregnant women.

BACKGROUND: Gestational changes in coagulation factor concentrations include elevations in fibrinogen, Factor VIII, and von Willebrand factor (vWF). We hypothesised that blood samples from term pregnant (TP) subjects are less prone to coagulation disturbances from haemodilution compared with those from non-pregnant (NP) females. METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 15 NP and 15 TP subjects. In vitro haemodilution with normal saline was assessed by modified Clauss fibrinogen assay, factor activity, flow-chamber assay, and thromboelastometry. The impact of human fibrinogen concentrate (hFC), cryoprecipitate, and vWF/Factor VIII (FVIII) concentrate replacement in diluted TP and NP blood was compared. Thrombin generation and activated protein C sensitivity were assessed. RESULTS: TP blood contained twice the concentrations of fibrinogen, FVIII, and vWF relative to NP blood (P<0.0001). Platelet thrombus formation (PTF) under flow was reduced by 99.2% and 69.2% in diluted NP and TP blood, respectively. Platelet thrombus formation was partially restored by adding vWF/FVIII, but not hFC or cryoprecipitate. Fibrin clot firmness approached the threshold of 10 mm in diluted NP blood, and clot firmness was effectively restored by hFC, but not by vWF/FVIII. In the presence of thrombomodulin, peak thrombin generation was decreased by 86.7% in NP plasma, but by 31.8% in TP plasma (P<0.0001 vs NP plasma), indicating reduced activated protein C sensitivity in TP plasma. Both elevated FVIII and haemodilution contributed to activated protein C insensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: Our in vitro model showed relative resistance of TP blood to dilutional coagulation changes with respect to platelet adhesion, fibrin polymerisation, and thrombin generation. Careful therapeutic monitoring for different pro-haemostatic agents in pregnant women is warranted.

Anticoagulation with argatroban in a parturient with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.

Unfractionated heparin and low-molecular-weight heparin are currently the anticoagulants of choice for the prevention of recurrent thromboembolic disease during pregnancy. However, heparin-induced thrombocytopenia contraindicates the use of unfractionated heparin and low-molecular-weight heparin. We describe a patient who was admitted to our hospital with deep vein thrombosis at 18 weeks of gestation and who developed heparin-induced thrombocytopenia during her antenatal care. Therapeutic anticoagulation was initially achieved with argatroban, then changed to fondaparinux. During early labor, fondaparinux was discontinued and intravenous argatroban was substituted. Argatroban was discontinued during transition to active labor. After return of a normal partial thromboplastin time, combined spinal-epidural analgesia was induced for routine completion of labor and vaginal delivery. We discuss the decisions made in the maintenance of this patient's anticoagulation during the peripartum period as well as timing of her neuraxial labor analgesia.

Carcinoid tumor and intravenous octreotide infusion during labor and delivery.

There are limited numbers of reports concerning the management of pregnancy complicated by carcinoid tumors. Octreotide, the synthetic analogue of somatostatin, has been found to be beneficial in preventing the perioperative exacerbation of carcinoid syndrome. We present a case of the successful use of neuraxial analgesia/anesthesia for labor and vaginal delivery in a symptomatic parturient afflicted with carcinoid syndrome, who received an intravenous infusion of octreotide throughout labor and vaginal delivery.

Maternal cardiac arrest associated with attempted fetal injection of potassium chloride.

We report a case of maternal cardiac arrest immediately after attempted fetal cardiac injection of potassium chloride. Prompt institution of maternal cardiac life-support protocols resulted in successful maternal resuscitation. The management of this case as well as that of fetal cardiac injections of potassium chloride is reviewed.

A parturient with severe bullous emphysema from intravenous drug abuse.

A parturient with severe talcosis-induced, bullous emphysema presented for urgent cesarean delivery. Respiratory effects of anesthesia, positioning for delivery and residual effects of postoperative analgesics all potentially affect the choice of anesthetic technique and drugs used in a patient with severe emphysema. This parturient was given epidural anesthesia for delivery and postoperative analgesia maintained with epidural infusion of bupivacaine and clonidine.

Increased body mass index has a deleterious effect on in vitro fertilization outcome.

PURPOSE: Few studies have addressed the effect of weight on IVF outcome, with some showing a decrease in IVF success and some showing no change in overweight women (BMI > 25 kg/m2) compared to women with normal weight (BMI < 25 kg/m2). METHODS: One hundred thirty-nine women < 40 years old undergoing 180 IVF cycles with fresh embryo transfers were retrospectively evaluated between January 1997 and March 1999, stratified by body mass index (BMI) (cutoff of 25). RESULTS: In the group with BMI > 25 kg/m2, basal FSH, implantation rates (IR), and pregnancy rates (PR) were significantly lower, while the duration of stimulation, gonadotropin requirements, and spontaneous miscarriages were slightly higher, compared to the BMI < or = 25 group. CONCLUSIONS: Excess weight defined as BMI > 25 kg/m2 has a negative impact on IVF outcome. Future prospective studies evaluating oocyte and/or embryo quality, and androgen and insulin levels, between overweight women and those with normal weight are needed.

Anesthetic management of preeclampsia/eclampsia.

Preeclampsia/eclampsia affects only a small proportion of all pregnancies, yet accounts for much of the obstetric morbidity and mortality seen in the USA and UK. A full understanding of preeclampsia/eclampsia, its variable presentation and complex pathophysiology allows the consulting anesthesiologist to optimize a plan for anesthetic management of the afflicted patient.

The effects of epidural opioids on fetal heart rate variability when coadministered with 0.25% bupivacaine for labor analgesia.

Assessment of fetal heart rate (FHR) variability provides important information regarding fetal well-being. Normal FHR variability is generally associated with fetal normoxia. Opioids are frequently co-administered with local anesthetics to provide epidural analgesia for labor. Epidural opioid effects on FHR variability have not been extensively studied. In a double-blind, randomized study, 109 parturients had their epidural catheter injected with either butorphanol (2 mg), fentanyl (50 microg), sufentanil (15 microg) or saline and bupivacaine (0.25%). FHR tracings of 30 min duration were obtained both before and after epidural analgesia. Each of the 218 tracings was randomly numbered and later graded by the same individual for short- and long-term variability. The two 30-min tracings for each patient were then paired but not ordered as to which tracing was "pre-epidural" or "postepidural" and again compared for change in short- and long-term variability between the paired tracings. The paired tracings were then ordered as "pre-epidural" or "postepidural." A designation was made whether long-term variability was increased, decreased, or stayed the same after induction of epidural analgesia. Short-term variability was initially present in all patients. There were no changes in short-term variability after induction of epidural analgesia. There was no difference in long-term variability in any group receiving opioids as compared to control. There was no difference in the change in long-term variability after induction of epidural analgesia. The addition of butorphanol, fentanyl, or sufentanil to epidural bupivacaine (0.25%) does not-change FHR short- or long-term variability.

Severe preeclampsia complicating mitral valve stenosis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We present a report of a parturient with severe mitral valve stenosis diagnosed during a previous pregnancy who developed severe preeclampsia. METHODS: Labor and subsequent abdominal delivery were managed with epidural analgesia and anesthesia. The clinical management was guided by invasive hemodynamic monitoring, including a flow-directed pulmonary artery catheter. CONCLUSIONS: Peripartum maternal and neonatal outcomes were satisfactory. Postpartum complications included pulmonary edema as well as peripartum heart failure and pulmonary thromboembolism 4 weeks postpartum.

Anesthesia with antiphospholipid antibodies: anesthetic management of a parturient with lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin antibody.

The anesthetic management of a parturient with a circulating lupus anticoagulant and an anticardiolipin antibody presenting to the obstetric suite taking heparin and aspirin is discussed. Issues concerning placement of a regional anesthetic with recent aspirin ingestion and heparin therapy are discussed. Documentation of heparin dissipation via a whole blood heparin concentration assay before induction of regional anesthesia, including several laboratory tests that could be used in monitoring coagulation status in this patient population, is discussed in detail.

Metastatic pain in the parturient: treatment with patient-controlled epidural sufentanil.

A 30-year-old primigravid woman presented at 28 weeks gestation with severe pain related to metastatic gastric carcinoma. Pain control was achieved with epidural sufentanil, administered via a patient-controlled analgesia pump, for 5 days, prior to caesarean delivery. Considerations in deciding the optimal therapeutic regime are discussed.

Neonatal acid-base status following general anesthesia for emergency abdominal delivery with halothane or isoflurane.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine whether halothane or isoflurane as anesthesia for emergency abdominal delivery is associated with better fetal acid-base parameters. DESIGN: Randomized study. SETTING: Inpatient Level III perinatal referral center in a university hospital. PATIENTS: Sixty-six gravidas undergoing emergency abdominal delivery under general anesthesia for fetal distress. INTERVENTIONS: Randomization to receive halothane or isoflurane at 0.7 minimum alveolar concentration as part of a standard anesthetic technique. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Umbilical artery and vein blood gases were obtained and compared for hydrogen ion concentration, partial pressure of carbon dioxide, partial pressure of oxygen, and base deficit. There were no significant differences between the isoflurane and halothane groups. CONCLUSIONS: There is no difference in the frequency or severity of acidosis associated with isoflurane or halothane when used for general anesthesia for emergency abdominal delivery of a distressed fetus.

Effect of epinephrine on intrathecal fentanyl analgesia in patients undergoing postpartum tubal ligation.

Eighty women receiving spinal anesthesia for postpartum tubal ligation were entered into a double-blind, randomized protocol studying the effects of epinephrine on intrathecal fentanyl-induced postoperative analgesia. All patients received 70 mg hyperbaric lidocaine with either 0.2 mg epinephrine (LE), 10 micrograms fentanyl (LF), epinephrine and fentanyl (LFE), or 0.4 ml saline (L). Onset and regression of anesthesia, degree of intraoperative comfort, incidence of pruritus, and extent of postoperative analgesia were evaluated. The simultaneous administration of epinephrine and fentanyl prolonged the duration of complete analgesia (137 +/- 47 min (LFE); 76 +/- 32 min (LE); 85 +/- 44 min (LF); 65 +/- 36 min (L)) and the duration of effective analgesia (562 +/- 504 min (LFE); 227 +/- 201 min (LE); 203 +/- 178 min (LF); 198 +/- 342 min (L)). Administration of epinephrine decreased the incidence of pruritus associated with intrathecal fentanyl (1/18 (LFE); 1/21 (LE); 8/19 (LF); 2/19 (L)).

Spinal cord compression following labor and delivery with epidural analgesia.

Transient back pain is not uncommon during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Following an epidural anesthetic, back pain persisted in a postpartum patient beyond the expected period of soreness. Further diagnostic evaluation led to diagnosis and surgical decompression of a herniated thoracic disc.

Epidural butorphanol-bupivacaine for analgesia during labor and delivery.

A double-blind, randomized, dose-response study of a combination of 0.25% bupivacaine combined with 0, 1, 2, or 3 mg of butorphanol was studied in 40 laboring parturients. The optimal dose of butorphanol combined with 8.5 to 10 ml 0.25% bupivacaine was 2 mg; with 2 mg, the duration of analgesia was significantly greater and the time to onset of analgesia significantly shorter than when no butorphanol was added, and the amount of bupivacaine could be reduced 50%. Adverse fetal effects were not observed except that of a low amplitude sinusoidal fetal heart rate pattern with doses of 3 mg butorphanol. All neonatal observations were normal. It is concluded that epidural butorphanol can be a useful and safe adjunct to bupivacaine used for epidural analgesia during labor.

Topical nasopharyngeal anaesthesia with vasoconstriction in preeclampsia-eclampsia.

We report the case of a 38-year-old eclamptic patient undergoing emergency Caesarean section who required awake nasotracheal intubation because of her massively swollen and lacerated tongue. Vasoconstriction, in addition to topical anaesthesia, was required due to thrombocytopaenia. The use of three per cent lidocaine with 0.125 per cent phenylephrine for anaesthesia and vasoconstriction is described with successful maternal and neonatal outcome.

Lupus anticoagulant. Implications for obstetric anaesthetists.

Circulating lupus anticoagulant occurs in 5-37% of all patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Its occurrence is not restricted to collagen vascular disease states. Lupus anticoagulant causes a prolongation of certain laboratory coagulation studies yet it is associated in vivo with a history of systemic intravascular thromboses. Placental vessels are also affected. Less than one in six pregnancies complicated by the presence of this auto-antibody is successful. Treatment of afflicted parturients with anti-platelet therapy has increased perinatal survival rates. Derangements in the coagulation profile and concomitant anti-platelet therapy confound the rational use of regional anaesthesia in the management of labour and delivery in these high-risk pregnancies.