Purpose: Class III obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 40 kg·m) is associated with high rates of Cesarean deliveries and postpartum hemorrhage, with increased maternal and fetal morbidity. The doses of oxytocin and carbetocin are two to four times higher at Cesarean delivery in patients with class III obesity. We sought to investigate the efficacy of carbetocin 80 µg iv compared with oxytocin 1 IU iv (plus infusion) at elective Cesarean delivery in parturients with class III obesity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: The purpose of our study was to determine the minimum effective dose of oxytocin maintenance infusion required to maintain adequate uterine tone in 90% of patients (ED) after administration of the initial bolus at elective Cesarean delivery (CD) under spinal anesthesia.
Methods: We conducted a prospective, double-blind dose-finding study with biased coin up-down design. Immediately after delivery, a 1-IU oxytocin bolus was administered, followed by a maintenance infusion.
Purpose: A zone of differential block to cold has been recently documented during labour epidural analgesia, with an upper sensory block level (USBL) and a lower sensory block level (LSBL). We aimed to determine the correlation between USBL and LSBL to cold and pinprick and sensory block level to light touch during labour epidural analgesia.
Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study in patients requesting labour epidural analgesia.
Background: Multiple pregnancy is associated with higher risk of uterine atony, postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), blood transfusion, hysterectomy, and death. The optimal dose of oxytocin at cesarean delivery in people with twin pregnancy is unknown. We sought to determine the effective bolus dose of oxytocin required to initiate adequate uterine tone in 90% of people (ED90) with twin pregnancy undergoing elective cesarean delivery.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is increasingly used in patients with severe cardiorespiratory collapse. Although prior large database reviews of ECMO use in the peripartum population exist, they do not stratify by ECMO indication nor do they include obstetric conditions such as preeclampsia. Our objective was to characterize the incidence, indication-associated mortality, and factors associated with mortality in pregnant patients who underwent ECMO.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCarbetocin or oxytocin are given routinely as first-line uterotonic drugs following delivery of the neonate during caesarean delivery to prevent postpartum haemorrhage. Low doses may be as effective as high doses with a potential reduction in adverse effects. In this double-blind, randomised, controlled, non-inferiority trial, we assigned low-risk patients undergoing elective caesarean delivery under spinal anaesthesia to one of four groups: carbetocin 20 μg; carbetocin 100 μg; oxytocin 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Assessment of sensory block level during labour epidural analgesia is an essential component of clinical practice and patient safety. Nevertheless, the methods and direction of testing are not standardized. In our hospital, sensory block testing to ice is routinely used, but while some anesthesiologists test the block from a nonanesthetized to an anesthetized area, some do it in the opposite direction.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPlacenta 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.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: The objective of this research was to examine the epidemiology of maternal sepsis in Canada.
Methods: We conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study of women (≥ 20 weeks gestation) hospitalized for delivery in all Canadian hospitals (excluding Quebec) between 1 April 2004 and 31 March 2017. Data were obtained from the national Canadian Institute for Health Information database and sepsis cases were identified via International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Canada (ICD-10-CA) codes.
Purpose: The objective of this study was to describe the incidence, management, and complications of difficult and failed endotracheal intubation in a general surgical population.
Methods: This historical cohort study included all cases of difficult endotracheal intubation in general surgical patients at Mount Sinai Hospital (Toronto, ON, Canada) from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2017. Patient charts and electronic records were reviewed to collect data on airway management and complications.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to better understand obstetric codes requiring rapid response team activation by examining their incidence, indications, team response, and patient outcomes.
Methods: This was a retrospective study in peripartum women who required activation of the following codes during hospitalization between January 2014 and May 2018: "Code 77 (C77)" (obstetric emergency), "Code Blue (CB)" (cardiopulmonary compromise) or "Code Omega (CO)" (massive transfusion). Hospital database and health records were searched to identify and review cases.
Background: Anesthesia-related complications in obstetric patients could be catastrophic and impact the lives of both the parturient and the neonate. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency, temporal trend, and risk factors of anesthesia-related adverse events during hospitalization for delivery in Canada.
Methods: This retrospective population-based study utilized the hospitalization database of the Canadian Institute for Health Information for all parturients (gestation ≥ 20 weeks) in Canada (except Quebec) hospitalized for childbirth from April 2004 to March 2017.
Postpartum hemorrhage is a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality, and uterine atony is the leading cause of postpartum hemorrhage. Risk factors for uterine atony include induced or augmented labor, preeclampsia, chorio-amnionitis, obesity, multiple gestation, polyhydramnios, and prolonged second stage of labor. Although a risk assessment is recommended for all parturients, many women with uterine atony do not have risk factors, making uterine atony difficult to predict.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To evaluate whether prophylactic administration of oxytocin plus ergonovine or oxytocin plus carboprost is more effective than oxytocin alone in reducing the need for additional uterotonics among women undergoing cesarean delivery for labor arrest.
Methods: In this double-blind, three-arm randomized controlled trial, participants were assigned to receive either oxytocin 5 units intravenous alone, or with ergonovine 0.25 mg intravenous or carboprost 0.
Introduction: Shock index and continuous non-invasive haemoglobin monitoring (SpHb) have both been proposed for the timely recognition of postpartum haemorrhage (PPH). We sought to determine, in parallel, the association of each of shock index and SpHb with blood loss after vaginal delivery.
Methods: Sixty-six women were recruited to this prospective observational study.
Prophylactic oxytocin administration at the third stage of labour reduces blood loss and the need for additional uterotonic drugs. Obesity is known to be associated with an increased risk of uterine atony and postpartum haemorrhage. It is unknown whether women with obesity require higher doses of oxytocin in order to achieve adequate uterine tone after delivery.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Nitroglycerin is used for acute reduction in uterine tone. Prolonged oxytocin exposure causes desensitization of oxytocin receptors. It is unknown if nitroglycerin exposure impacts the subsequent action of oxytocin in the setting of oxytocin receptor desensitization.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Obstet Anesth
November 2020
Background: The incidence of heart failure among pregnant women with pre-existing cardiac disease is quoted as 13%, with 10% requiring hospitalization. There is limited literature on heart failure in the pregnant population. The study objective was to describe the etiology and management of women hospitalized in our institution for heart failure during pregnancy.
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