Anesthesia Considerations for Placenta Accreta Spectrum.

Anesthesiologists are critical members of the multidisciplinary team managing patients with suspected placenta accreta spectrum (PAS). Preoperatively, anesthesiologists provide predelivery consultation for patients with suspected PAS where anesthetic modality and invasive monitor placement is discussed. Additionally, anesthesiologists carefully assess patient and surgical risk factors to choose an anesthetic plan and to prepare for massive intraoperative hemorrhage. Postoperatively, the obstetric anesthesiologist hold unique skills to assist with postoperative pain management for cesarean hysterectomy. We review the unique aspects of peripartum care for patients with PAS who undergo cesarean hysterectomy and explain why these responsibilities are critical for achieving successful outcomes for patients with PAS. KEY POINTS: · Anesthesiologists are critical members of the multidisciplinary team planning for patients with suspected placenta accreta spectrum.. · Intraoperative preparation for massive hemorrhage is a key component of anesthetic care for patients with PAS.. · Obstetric anesthesiologists have a unique skill set to manage postpartum pain and postoperative disposition for patients with PAS who undergo cesarean hysterectomy..

Placenta Accreta Spectrum Disorders: Knowledge Gaps in Anesthesia Care.

Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorder is a potentially life-threatening condition that can occur during pregnancy. PAS puts pregnant individuals at a very high risk of major blood loss, hysterectomy, and intensive care unit admission. These patients should receive care in a center with multidisciplinary experience and expertise in managing PAS disorder. Obstetric anesthesiologists play vital roles in the peripartum care of pregnant patients with suspected PAS. As well as providing high-quality anesthesia care, obstetric anesthesiologists coordinate peridelivery care, drive transfusion-related decision making, and oversee postpartum analgesia. However, there are a number of key knowledge gaps related to the anesthesia care of these patients. For example, limited data are available describing optimal anesthesia staffing models for scheduled and unscheduled delivery. Evidence and consensus are lacking on the ideal surgical location for delivery; primary mode of anesthesia for cesarean delivery; preoperative blood ordering; use of pharmacological adjuncts for hemorrhage management, such as tranexamic acid and fibrinogen concentrate; neuraxial blocks and abdominal wall blocks for postoperative analgesia; and the preferred location for postpartum care. It is also unclear how anesthesia-related decision making and interventions impact physical and mental health outcomes. High-quality international multicenter studies are needed to fill these knowledge gaps and advance the anesthesia care of patients with PAS.

Transfusion Preparedness in the Labor and Delivery Unit: An Initiative to Improve Safety and Cost.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate patient safety, resource utilization, and transfusion-related cost after a policy change from universal type and screen to selective type and screen on admission to labor and delivery. METHODS: Between October 2017 and September 2019, we performed a single-center implementation study focusing on risk-based type and screen instead of universal type and screen. Implementation of our policy was October 2018 and compared 1 year preimplementation with 1 year postimplementation. Patients were risk-stratified in alignment with California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative recommendations. Under the new policy, the blood bank holds a blood sample for processing (hold clot) on patients at low- and medium-risk of hemorrhage. Type and screen and crossmatch are obtained on high-risk patients or with a prior positive antibody screen. We collected patient outcomes, safety and cost data, and compliance and resource utilization metrics. Cost included direct costs of transfusion-related testing in the labor and delivery unit during the study period, from a health system perspective. RESULTS: In 1 year postimplementation, there were no differences in emergency-release transfusion events (4 vs 3, P>.99). There were fewer emergency-release red blood cell (RBC) units transfused (9 vs 24, P=.002) and O-negative RBC units transfused (8 vs 18, P=.016) postimplementation compared with preimplementation. Hysterectomies (0.05% vs 0.1%, P=.44) and intensive care unit admissions (0.45% vs 0.51%, P=.43) were not different postimplementation compared with preimplementation. Postimplementation, mean monthly type and screen-related costs (ABO typing, antibody screen, and antibody workup costs) were lower, $9,753 compared with $20,676 in the preimplementation year, P<.001. CONCLUSION: Implementation of selective type and screen policy in the labor and delivery unit was associated with projected annual savings of $181,000 in an institution with 4,000 deliveries per year, without evidence of increased maternal morbidity.

Peripartum Anesthesia Considerations for Placenta Accreta.

Placenta accreta spectrum is becoming more common and is the most frequent indication for peripartum hysterectomy. Management of cesarean delivery in the setting of a morbidly adherent placenta has potential for massive hemorrhage, coagulopathies, and other morbidities. Anesthetic management of placenta accreta spectrum presents many challenges including optimizing surgical conditions, providing a safe and satisfying maternal delivery experience, preparing for massive hemorrhage and transfusion, preventing coagulopathies, and optimizing postoperative pain control. Balancing these challenging goals requires meticulous preparation with a thorough preoperative evaluation of the parturient and a well-coordinated multidisciplinary approach in order to optimize outcomes for the mother and fetus.

Serum Bupivacaine Concentration After Periarticular Injection With a Mixture of Liposomal Bupivacaine and Bupivacaine HCl During Total Knee Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A relatively new technique to reduce postoperative pain for total knee arthroplasty is to inject a mixture of 266 mg of liposomal bupivacaine and 125 mg of 0.25% bupivacaine HCl with epinephrine 1:300,000 around the knee joint at the time of surgery. Currently, no publications report serum bupivacaine concentrations over time after periarticular injection of liposomal mixed with free bupivacaine. This information is important to ensure safe serum bupivacaine concentrations are maintained especially when considering supplemental or rescue peripheral nerve blocks. METHODS: A total of 40 subjects scheduled for primary unilateral total knee arthroplasty with intraoperative periarticular injection of the liposomal bupivacaine and bupivacaine HCl mixture were included. Total serum bupivacaine concentrations were measured after the last injection at selected time points and calculated by gas chromatography. Quantile regression techniques were used to analyze the data over time. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (ID NCT02626559). RESULTS: Peak serum concentration ranged from 0.17 to 1.2 µg/mL and occurred from 10 minutes to 48 hours. Across all time points, the 48-hour interval had the highest mean concentration of total serum bupivacaine at 0.55 µg/mL (SD, 0.27). Quantile regression showed total serum bupivacaine concentrations increased over the 48 hours measured. None of the participants demonstrated signs or symptoms of local anesthetic toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: Total serum concentrations of bupivacaine after periarticular administration of liposomal bupivacaine mixed with bupivacaine HCl remained below the described toxicity threshold (2.5 µg/mL) within the first 48 hours, and no patients demonstrated signs or symptoms of toxicity. However, peak serum concentration time was not achieved within the 48-hour interval. Additional studies are needed to describe the course of serum bupivacaine levels after 48 hours and to ascertain the risk of toxicity when combining this method of periarticular injection with peripheral nerve blocks.

Prevalence and descriptive analysis of congenital heart disease in parturients: obstetric, neonatal, and anesthetic outcomes.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The study objectives are to (1) assess prevalence of congenital heart disease (CHD), (2) describe outcomes of pregnancies in women with CHD, (3) compare outcomes in women with and without CHD, and (4) characterize neonatal outcomes in pregnancies complicated by CHD. DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study of women who delivered at the University of Colorado Hospital. Diagnosis of CHD was identified based on history of cardiac disease, pulmonary disease, or subacute bacterial endocarditis prophylaxis during labor and confirmed with echocardiogram when available. Comprehensive retrospective review of anesthetic, obstetric, and neonatal outcomes was performed. SETTING: University of Colorado Hospital. PATIENTS: 18,226 women. INTERVENTIONS: Medical record review. MEASUREMENTS: Valvular abnormalities, New York Heart Failure Association classification scores, types of CHD, maternal age, race, gravidity, parity, maternal prepregnancy body mass index, cigarette use, type of delivery, type of analgesia used, early initiation of neuraxial analgesia, arrhythmias, need for peripartum diuretics, prolonged maternal hospital stay, preterm birth, small for gestational age, neonatal CHD, neonatal or maternal intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, and maternal or neonatal death. MAIN RESULTS: We identified 117 pregnancies in 110 women with CHD. Parturients with CHD were more likely to have operative vaginal delivery (P < .0001), neonatal ICU admissions (P = .003), and had prolonged hospital stays. Occurrence of CHD in neonates was 6%. Moderate-to-severe valvular disease was associated with increased rates of operative vaginal delivery, early initiation of neuraxial labor analgesia, cardiac complications (including arrhythmia and use of diuretics), prolonged hospital stay, and maternal ICU admission. However, most deliveries and births were uncomplicated; and there were one case each of maternal mortality and fetal death after birth. CONCLUSION: Operative abdominal deliveries and neonatal ICU admissions are more common in women with CHD, but these pregnancies are generally well tolerated with low mortality rates.