Real-time monitoring of cortical brain activity in response to acute pain using wide-area Ca2+ imaging.

Previous human and rodent studies indicated that nociceptive stimuli activate many brain regions that is involved in the somatosensory and emotional sensation. Although these studies have identified several important brain regions involved in pain perception, it has been a challenge to observe neural activity directly and simultaneously in these multiple brain regions during pain perception. Using a transgenic mouse expressing G-CaMP7 in majority of astrocytes and a subpopulation of excitatory neurons, we recorded the brain activity in the mouse cerebral cortex during acute pain stimulation. Both of hind paw pinch and intraplantar administration of formalin caused strong transient increase of the fluorescence in several cortical regions, including primary somatosensory, motor and retrosplenial cortex. This increase of the fluorescence intensity was attenuated by the pretreatment with morphine. The present study provides important insight into the cortico-cortical network during pain perception.

Efficacy of intravenous dexamethasone on postoperative pain after caesarean delivery under spinal anaesthesia with an intrathecal long-acting opioid: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Intravenous dexamethasone is recommended in elective caesarean delivery to decrease postoperative pain. However, the efficacy of spinal anaesthesia with an intrathecal long-acting opioid such as morphine or diamorphine for caesarean delivery has not been systematically investigated. METHODS: We searched all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of pregnant women undergoing caesarean delivery under spinal anaesthesia with an intrathecal morphine or diamorphine via MEDLINE, CENTRAL, EMBASE, ICTRP, and ClinicalTrials.gov on May 18, 2022. Primary outcomes were time to first rescue analgesia, consumption of oral morphine equivalents, and incidence of drug-related adverse reactions. We evaluated the risk of bias for each outcome using the Risk of Bias 2. We conducted a meta-analysis using a random effects model. We evaluated the certainty of evidence with the GRADE approach. RESULTS: Five RCTs (455 patients) were included. The results of intravenous dexamethasone were as follows: time to first rescue analgesia (mean difference [MD] 0.99 h, 95% confidence interval [CI] - 0.86 to 2.84; very low certainty) and consumption of oral morphine equivalents (MD - 6.55 mg, 95% CI - 17.13 to 4.02; moderate certainty). No incidence of drug-related adverse reactions was reported (very low certainty). CONCLUSION: The evidence was very uncertain about the efficacy of intravenous dexamethasone on time to first rescue analgesia and the incidence of drug-related adverse reactions. Intravenous dexamethasone probably reduces the consumption of oral morphine equivalents. Anaesthesiologists might want to consider intravenous dexamethasone for postoperative pain after caesarean delivery under spinal anaesthesia with an intrathecal long-acting opioid.

Intercristal line determined by palpation in parturients in the sitting and the lateral decubitus positions: a prospective observational study.

PURPOSE: We aimed to investigate intersected vertebral level changes in the palpated intercristal line (PI-line) when shifting from a sitting to a lateral decubitus position in parturients. METHODS: We consecutively enrolled parturients with a gestational age of ≥36 weeks. The attending anesthesiologists palpated the superior aspects of the posterior iliac crests bilaterally in a sitting position and then in a lateral decubitus position. The blinded investigators performed the ultrasound and recorded the intersected segment level of the PI-line. The distance between any two consecutive vertebral interspaces was divided into 3 segments, and comparisons were made with 15 segments of five vertebral interspaces above the sacrum. The primary outcome was the concordance rate of intersected segment level of the PI-line between the two positions. We also examined the intersected segment level of the PI-line of the two positions and the magnitude of these changes. RESULTS: Thirty-nine parturients were analyzed. The concordance rate of intersected segment levels of the PI-line between the two positions was 21% (8/39). In 56% (22/39) of the parturients, the intersected segment level of the PI-line in the sitting position was more cephalad and 23% (9/39) were more caudal. Fifteen percent (6/39) of parturients had three or more segment differences between the two positions. CONCLUSIONS: The intersected segment level of the PI-line, measured with trisected segments in each vertebral interspace, was different between the sitting and the lateral decubitus positions in approximately 80% of the parturients. Notably, 15% (6/39) of the parturients had at least one vertebral interspace deviation.

Anesthetic considerations for cesarean delivery in a parturient with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), also known as Rendu-Osler-Weber syndrome, is a rare autosomal dominant disorder characterized by mucocutaneous telangiectasia and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). There are some anesthetic considerations for cesarean delivery in a parturient with HHT. CASE PRESENTATION: A 27-year-old parturient with pulmonary hemorrhage was admitted to our tertiary perinatal center. She was first diagnosed with HHT and a cesarean delivery using spinal anesthesia at 37 weeks of gestation was initially planned. However, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 32 weeks of gestation revealed spinal AVM ranging from the thoracic to the lumbar levels. Thus, elective cesarean delivery under general anesthesia was planned. The parturient had an uneventful perioperative course. CONCLUSIONS: HHT should be considered as a differential diagnosis when parturients develop pulmonary hemorrhage. In a cesarean delivery of parturients with HHT, spinal MRI during pregnancy can help in deciding the anesthetic procedure to be used.

Perioperative management of thyroglossal duct cystectomy in a pediatric patient: A case report.

Thyroglossal duct on the dorsum of the tongue in the pediatric patient can cause a difficult airway due to the large mass and risk of airway obstruction associated with a swollen tongue after surgery.

The first national survey of anesthesia techniques for fetal therapies in Japan.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to survey the frequency of various anesthetic techniques used in the anesthetic management of both the mother and fetus during fetal therapies in Japan. METHODS: We sent a postal survey to the institutions with physicians who held membership of the Japan Society of Fetal Therapy to describe maternal and fetal anesthetic management during fetal therapies performed from January 2016 to March 2017. The therapies included were thoracoamniotic shunting (TAS), intrauterine transfusion (IUT), radiofrequency ablation (RFA), fetoscopic laser photocoagulation (FLP), fetoscopic endotracheal occlusion (FETO), and ex utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT). Survey respondents were asked to specify the standard anesthetic technique used in each of these procedures done during the study period. RESULTS: The most common anesthetic techniques used in each therapy were sedation/analgesia with local anesthesia in TAS (31%), local anesthesia alone in IUT (47%), neuraxial anesthesia in RFA (50%), FLP (66%) and FETO (100%), and general endotracheal anesthesia in EXIT. Fetal analgesia was utilized in 61% of TAS, 33% of IUT, 10% of RFA, 22% of FLP, 100% of FETO, and 50% of EXIT. In all fetal therapies, the most common route of administration for fetal anesthesia was maternal administration. CONCLUSION: In this first published description of the frequency of various anesthetic techniques used during fetal therapies in Japan, we found that anesthetic techniques varied depending on the degree of invasiveness to the mother and fetus. Fetal anesthesia was not always performed, and the most common route for fetal anesthesia was maternal administration.

Postoperative renal function in parturients with severe preeclampsia who underwent cesarean delivery: a retrospective observational study.

Although postoperative renal dysfunction is relatively rare after cesarean delivery, preeclampsia is considered as the high-risk population. On the other hand, hydroxyethyl starch (HES) administration for preventing maternal hypotension induced by spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery is a common practice. However, the effect of HES administration during cesarean delivery on postoperative kidney function in parturients with severe preeclampsia is not well investigated. We retrospectively reviewed both medical and anesthesia records of patients with severe preeclampsia who underwent cesarean delivery from January 2011 to December 2013. Preoperative blood examinations were compared with postoperative values. All parturients received 6% HES 70/0.5 for preventing anesthesia-induced hypotension or for volume resuscitation during cesarean delivery. A total of 87 severe preeclampsia parturients were underwent cesarean section during the period. The amounts of HES administration were 859 ± 206 mL. There was significant reduction in serum creatinine, from 0.70 ± 0.29 mg/dL preoperatively to 0.62 ± 0.17 mg/dL in 3-7 days after the cesarean. Only one patient had postoperatively elevated serum creatinine up to clinically significant level (from 0.64 mg/dL to 1.35 mg/kg).

Outcomes of labor epidural analgesia among women aged over 40: A single-institution retrospective study.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of labor epidural analgesia (LEA) on maternal and neonatal outcomes among parturients aged 40 years or older. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of all laboring, singleton and cephalic deliveries at ≥36 weeks' gestation at the Saitama Medical Center from April 2003 to September 2012. Women aged ≥40 years who received LEA (≥40 with LEA group) were compared with women aged ≥40 years who delivered without LEA (≥40 without LEA group) and women <40 years who received LEA (<40 with LEA group). Extracted outcomes included mode of delivery, oxytocin augmentation, duration of labor, amount of estimated blood loss, umbilical artery pH, Apgar scores, and neonatal intensive care unit admission. RESULTS: This study included 4441 women. There were 74 women in the ≥40 with LEA group, 369 in the ≥40 without LEA group, and 601 in the <40 with LEA group. The maternal outcomes of emergency cesarean delivery rate (9.5%, 12.5%, 9.0%), instrumental delivery rate (33.8%, 10.3%, 28.3%), duration of labor (521 min, 321 min, 565 min), and estimated blood loss (524 g, 351 g, 412 g) were reported for the ≥40 with LEA, ≥40 without LEA, and <40 with LEA groups, respectively. Neonatal outcomes were not different between these groups. LEA use was not associated with emergency cesarean delivery in the multivariable analysis. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that parturients aged ≥40 with LEA can expect similar LEA-associated labor outcomes to younger parturients with LEA.

Successful resuscitation of amniotic fluid embolism applying a new classification and management strategy.

Amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) is a rare but life-threatening maternal emergency caused by the entry of amniotic fluid contents into the maternal circulation. The clinical manifestations of AFE are heterogeneous, leading to misdiagnosis or treatment delay. Kanayama and colleagues distinguished the cardiopulmonary collapse type (or classic type) from the disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) type of AFE on the basis of the presence of uterine atony and DIC in the latter prior to cardiopulmonary failure. We report a case of DIC-type AFE successfully treated by blood volume replacement and coagulation therapy. The patient was scheduled for elective cesarean delivery because of a previous cesarean section and moyamoya disease. Delivery was uneventful, but massive vaginal bleeding without clotting and ensuing hypovolemic shock occurred 4 h later. She was transferred to the operating room for emergency laparotomy, but sustained a cardiac arrest. The patient was successfully resuscitated and a hysterectomy performed. During surgery, the patient received fresh frozen plasma, platelets, fibrinogen, and antithrombin concentrate. In cardiopulmonary collapse type AFE, cardiopulmonary resuscitation without delay is important. In the present case of DIC-type AFE, however, early supplementation of clotting factors and platelets was critical for patient survival.

Acute transverse myelitis arising after combined general and thoracic epidural anesthesia.

Acute transverse myelitis after surgery is a rare condition, but this complication is devastating. The relationship between anesthetic procedures and acute transverse myelitis is controversial. A 46-year-old woman was scheduled a colostomy closure, and general anesthesia with thoracic epidural anesthesia was performed. Epidural catheter was inserted at the T10-11 interspace, and insertion was smooth, and no blood or cerebrospinal fluid leakage was seen. However, 28 h after the surgery, the patient complained motor, sensory, and autonomic dysfunction. Two days after onset, a magnetic resonance imaging study demonstrated intramedullary hyperintensity, particularly in the gray matter, extending from T5-T9 and then diagnosed with acute transverse myelitis followed by the several examinations. High-dose IV methylprednisolone treatment was initiated and neurologic function restored 2 months after onset. Transverse myelitis may unpredictably occur following surgery. We are not able to determine the pathogenic relationship between anesthesia and myelitis with certainty, but proper diagnostic approach to myelitis may improve the prognosis.

Success rate and challenges of fetal anesthesia for ultrasound guided fetal intervention by maternal opioid and benzodiazepine administration.

OBJECTIVE: The safe and effective methods of fetal anesthesia/analgesia during ultrasound guided direct fetal procedure are yet to be determined. The authors investigated whether maternal diazepam/fentanyl administration meets this purpose. METHODS: The medical/anesthesia records were retrospectively reviewed in cases between 2001 and 2010 at a tertiary perinatal center. Success rate as well as maternal and fetal complications were analysed. RESULTS: Among the 150 procedures in 118 fetuses, diazepam 10 mg and fentanyl 200 µg sufficiently prevented fetal movement upon the procedure in 56% of the procedures. Supplemental anesthetic agents such as nitrous oxide and propofol were needed in other cases. No serious maternal complication was noted, while fetal cardiac arrest/severe bradycardia was noted in three fetuses, one of which was successfully resuscitated by intracardiac adrenalin injection. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal diiazepam/fentanyl administration offered adequate fetal condition without significant maternal complications. Since these procedures are performed to treat severe fetal conditions, preparation for fetal resuscitation is also important.

Regional anesthesia and non-preeclamptic thrombocytopenia: time to re-think the safe platelet count.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although regional anesthesia is widely used for pain control in obstetrics, it may not be appropriate for patients with thrombocytopenia due to the risk of neuraxial hematoma. There is no strong evidence to suggest the minimum platelet count that is necessary to ensure the safe practice of regional anesthesia. The purpose of this study was to review the safety of regional anesthesia in non-preeclamptic thrombocytopenic parturients at our institution over a 5-year period. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed in all the non-preeclamptic obstetric patients who delivered at our facility between April 2001 and March 2006, and had platelet counts < 100 x 10(9).L(-1) on the day of anesthesia. The etiology of the thrombocytopenia, type of anesthesia, mode of delivery and major anesthetic complications were noted. RESULTS: Seventy-five patients were identified, 47 of whom (62.6%) had received regional anesthesia. The etiology of their thrombocytopenia was immune thrombocytopenic purpura in 49 patients, gestational thrombocytopenia in 20 and other causes in 6 patients. Regional anesthesia was administered in 91.9% of the patients with platelet counts of 80 to 99 x 10(9).L(-1) and in 48.1% of the patients with platelet counts of 50 to 79 x 10(9).L(-1). None of the 11 patients with platelet counts below 50 x 10(9).L(-1) received regional anesthesia. There were no neurological complications. CONCLUSIONS: In our series, regional anesthesia was safely administered in pregnant patients with platelet counts between 50-79 x 10(9).L(-1). Our results are in keeping with other series in the literature. We suggest that in non-preeclamptic patients with stable platelet counts and no history or clinical signs of bleeding, the lower limit of platelet count for regional anesthesia should be 50 x 10(9).L(-1).

Anestesia regional e trombocitopenia não pré-eclâmptica: hora de repensar o nível seguro de plaquetas / Regional anesthesia and non-preeclamptic thrombocytopenia: time to re-think the safe platelet count / Anestesia regional y trombocitopenia no preclámptica: es hora de pensar de nuevo sobre el nivel seguro de plaquetas

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: Apesar de a anestesia regional ser amplamente utilizada no controle da dor em obstetrícia, seu uso pode não ser apropriado nas pacientes com trombocitopenia por causa do risco de hematoma no neuroeixo. Não existem fortes evidências sugerindo número mínimo de plaquetas necessário para garantir a segurança na realização da anestesia regional. O objetivo deste estudo foi rever a segurança da anestesia regional em pacientes com trombocitopenia não pré-eclâmptica na instituição durante período de cinco anos. MÉTODO: Foi realizada revisão retrospectiva dos prontuários médicos de todas as pacientes obstétricas não pré-eclâmpticas cujo parto foi realizado na instituição entre abril de 2001 e março de 2006 e que apresentaram contagem de plaquetas < 100 x 109.L-1 no dia da anestesia. A etiologia da trombocitopenia, o tipo de anestesia, tipo de parto e as principais complicações anestésicas foram registrados. RESULTADOS: Foram identificadas 75 pacientes, das quais 47 (62,2%) receberam anestesia regional. A etiologia da trombocitopenia incluiu púrpura trombocitopênica imune, em 49 pacientes; trombocitopenia gestacional, em 20 pacientes; e outras causas em seis pacientes. Anestesia regional foi utilizada em 91,9% das pacientes com nível de plaquetas entre 80 a 99 x 109.L-1 e em 48,1% das pacientes com nível de plaquetas entre 50 e 79 x 109.L-1. Em nenhuma das 11 pacientes que apresentavam plaquetas abaixo de 50 x 109.L-1 foi administrada anestesia regional. Não houve complicações neurológicas. CONCLUSÕES: Nos casos estudados, a anestesia regional foi administrada com segurança nas gestantes com nível de plaquetas entre 50 - 79 x 109.L-1. Neste estudo os resultados são semelhantes aos de outras séries relatadas na literatura. Sugere-se que nas pacientes sem eclâmpsia com um nível estável de plaquetas e sem história prévia ou sinais clínicos de sangramento, o limite inferior de 50 x 109.L-1 deve ser adotado.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although regional anesthesia is widely used for pain control in obstetrics, it may not be appropriate for patients with thrombocytopenia due to the risk of neuraxial hematoma. There is no strong evidence to suggest the minimum platelet count that is necessary to ensure the safe practice of regional anesthesia. The purpose of this study was to review the safety of regional anesthesia in non-preeclamptic thrombocytopenic parturients at our institution over a 5-year period. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed in all the non-preeclamptic obstetric patients who delivered at our facility between April 2001 and March 2006, and had platelet counts < 100 × 109.L-1 on the day of anesthesia. The etiology of the thrombocytopenia, type of anesthesia, mode of delivery and major anesthetic complications were noted. RESULTS: Seventy-five patients were identified, 47 of whom (62.6%) had received regional anesthesia. The etiology of their thrombocytopenia was immune thrombocytopenic purpura in 49 patients, gestational thrombocytopenia in 20 and other causes in 6 patients. Regional anesthesia was administered in 91.9% of the patients with platelet counts of 80 to 99 × 109.L-1 and in 48.1% of the patients with platelet counts of 50 to 79 × 109.L-1. None of the 11 patients with platelet counts below 50 × 109.L-1 received regional anesthesia. There were no neurological complications. CONCLUSIONS: In our series, regional anesthesia was safely administered in pregnant patients with platelet counts between 50-79 × 109.L-1. Our results are in keeping with other series in the literature. We suggest that in non-preeclamptic patients with stable platelet counts and no history or clinical signs of bleeding, the lower limit of platelet count for regional anesthesia should be 50 × 109.L-1.

JUSTIFICATIVA Y OBJETIVOS: A pesar de que la anestesia regional esté siendo muy utilizada en el control del dolor en obstetricia, su uso puede no ser muy apropiado en las pacientes con trombocitopenia, debido al riesgo de hematoma en el neuro eje. No existen fuertes evidencias que sugieran un número mínimo de plaquetas necesario para garantizar la seguridad en la realización de la anestesia regional. El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar la seguridad de la anestesia regional en pacientes con trombocitopenia no preeclámptica en la institución durante un período de cinco años. MÉTODO: Fue realizada revisión retrospectiva de las historias clínicas médicas de todas las pacientes obstétricas no preeclámpticas cuyo parto fue realizado en la institución entre abril de 2001 y marzo de 2006 y que presentaron < 100 x 109.L-1 de plaquetas el día de la anestesia. La etiología de la trombocitopenia, el tipo de anestesia, tipo de parto y las principales complicaciones anestésicas fueron registrados. RESULTADOS: Se identificaron 75 pacientes, de las cuales 47 (62,2%) recibieron anestesia regional. La etiología de la trombocitopenia incluyó púrpura trombocitopénica inmune en 49 pacientes, trombocitopenia de gestación en 20 pacientes, y otras causas en seis pacientes. La anestesia regional fue utilizada en un 91.9% de las pacientes con nivel de plaquetas entre 80 a 99 x 109.L-1 y en 48.1% de las pacientes con nivel de plaquetas entre 50 y 79 x 109.L-1. Ninguna de las 11 pacientes que presentaban plaquetas por debajo de 50 x 109.L-1 recibió anestesia regional. No hubo complicaciones neurológicas. CONCLUSIONES: En los casos estudiados, la anestesia regional fue administrada con seguridad en las gestantes con nivel de plaquetas entre...

Sonoanatomy of the lumbar spine in patients with previous unintentional dural punctures during labor epidurals.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Preprocedural lumbar ultrasound is a valuable tool to assess anatomical landmarks and predict the depth of the epidural space. Variations of the ligamentum flavum sonoanatomy are occasionally observed; however, no literature is available as to their incidence or clinical significance. We hypothesize that abnormal sonoanatomy of the lumbar spine detected by ultrasound can be associated with an increase in unintentional dural punctures. This study was undertaken to determine if the sonoanatomy of the lumbar spine of patients who had documented unintentional dural punctures differs from that of patients with a history of uneventful epidural placement for labor analgesia. METHODS: Ultrasound of the entire lumbar spine was performed on 18 patients with a documented history of unintentional dural punctures, and 18 volunteers with a history of uneventful labor epidurals. At each interspace, we studied the quality of the ligamentum flavum (normal or abnormal), the symmetry of the bony structures (symmetric or asymmetric), and the distance from the skin to the ligamentum flavum. These parameters were compared in both groups. RESULTS: The incidence of asymmetric sonoanatomy and the distance from the skin to the ligamentum flavum was similar in both groups. The incidence of abnormal ligamentum flavum sonoanatomy was higher in the dural puncture group (overall odds ratio for the 5 interspaces was 8.21, 95% confidence interval 3.07-22.0, P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal sonoanatomy of the ligamentum flavum may represent anatomical variations of this structure, which may be related to an increased incidence of unintentional dural punctures during epidural placements.