Are the Wells Score and the Revised Geneva Score valuable for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism in pregnancy?

Objectives: To evaluate and to compare the predictive accuracy of the Wells score and the revised Geneva scores for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism in the pregnant and postpartum population.

Study Design: All pregnant or post-partum patients with a suspected PE and for whom a diagnostic imaging testing was performed (VQ scintigraphy or computed tomography pulmonary angiography) over a 3-year period were included in the study. The Wells and Revised Geneva Scores were calculated on the same cohort of patients and dichotomized into low and intermediate/high probability groups.

Pharmacokinetics of bupivacaine after bilateral ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block following cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia.

Background: Transversus abdominis plane block is an effective method of post-cesarean analgesia. There are no data available about plasma bupivacaine levels after this block in adults. This study aimed to assess bupivacaine pharmacokinetic parameters after ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane blocks following cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia.

Efficacy and safety of pelvic packing after emergency peripartum hysterectomy (EPH) in postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) setting.

Objectives: To study the safety and effectiveness of pelvic packing in the control of post emergency peripartum hysterectomy (EPH) bleeding in a postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) setting.

Study Design: From 39 patients with a severe PPH leading to an EPH (January 2010-December 2013), we identified a group of 17 patients requiring a pelvic packing (packing group) and a second group of 22 patients not requiring a pelvic packing (non-packing group). For each group, transfusion requirements were recorded from time of PPH diagnosis to end of the surgical procedure (P1: Period 1) and from that point to the end management in the SICU (P2: Period 2).

[Prevention of hypotension during spinal anesthesia for elective caesarean section: coloading with HAE 130/0.4 vs normal saline solution].

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of HES 130/0.4 coloading compared to normal saline solution for prevention of hypotension during spinal anesthesia for elective caesarean section.

Study Design: Prospective, randomized.