Obstetric hemorrhage risk assessment using the maximum allowable blood loss calculation: are we on the right track?

The clinical guidelines on postpartum hemorrhage from the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) provide evidence-based recommendations structured around the 6Rs framework: Risk Assessment, Risk Reduction, Recognition and Evaluation, Reaction, Resuscitation, and Review. Since its publication, our institution has begun implementing all the guideline recommendations. One key recommendation is to calculate the Maximum Allowable Blood Loss (MABL) to reach a hemoglobin level of 70 g/L for every obstetric patient.

Tracheal deviation with phrenic nerve palsy after brachial plexus block.

We present a case of a woman who received a left single-injection supraclavicular brachial plexus block for analgesia to facilitate upper extremity orthopaedic surgery. Before tracheal extubation she desaturated, was noted to have a low tidal volume and reduced left-sided air entry on auscultation of the chest. A chest x-ray taken 1 h following tracheal extubation revealed elevation of the left hemidiaphragm and a rightward shift of the trachea and mediastinal structures, with no evidence of pneumothorax.

The crossed-leg position increases the dimensions within the acoustic target window for neuraxial needle placement in term pregnancy: a prospective observational study.

Introduction: Neuraxial anesthesia in obstetric patients may be difficult to achieve due to anatomical changes in pregnancy. The crossed-leg position may help in optimizing patient position. We prospectively evaluated the utility of the crossed-leg position compared with a standard position using ultrasound measurements.

Efficacy of surface landmark palpation for identification of the cricoid cartilage in obstetric patients: A prospective observational study.

Background And Aims: Rapid sequence induction, with the application of cricoid pressure is an accepted practice during induction of general anesthesia in pregnant patients to prevent pulmonary apiration. We found no prior studies assessing the accuracy of locating the cricoid cartilage by professional caregivers, and therefore conducted an observational study to assess the ability of different caregivers - anesthesia consultants, anesthesia residents, respiratory therapists (RTs), and nurses, in the obstetric care unit, to correctly identify the cricoid cartilage of parturients. We hypothesized that anesthesia consultants would be most accurate.

Efficacy of the Epidural Positioning Device® in optimizing the acoustic target window for neuraxial needle placement in term pregnancy.

Background: Neuraxial anesthesia can be challenging in obstetric patients due to the gravid uterus interfering with patient positioning. Ultrasound is commonly used in obstetric anesthesia to facilitate neuraxial needle placement. Some positioning maneuvers facilitate the ultrasound visualization of structures and the placement of neuraxial needles, but the Epidural Positioning Device (EPD) has yet to be evaluated.

[Effect of table tilt and spine flexion-rotation on the acoustic window of the lumbar spine in pregnant women].

Study Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess whether application of dorsal table tilt and body rotation to a parturient seated for neuraxial anesthesia increased the size of the paramedian target area for neuraxial needle insertion.

Setting: Labor and Delivery Room.

Patients: Thirty term pregnant women, ASA I–II, scheduled for an elective C-section delivery.

[Ultrasound guided quadratus lumborum block for analgesia after cesarean delivery: case series].

Introduction: The majority of women having planned cesarean section receive spinal anesthesia for the procedure. Typically, spinal opioids are administered during the same time as a component of multimodal analgesia to provide pain relief in the 16-24h period postoperatively. The quadratus lumborum block is a regional analgesic technique that blocks T5-L1 nerve branches and has an evolving role in postoperative analgesia for lower abdominal surgeries and may be a potential alternative to spinal opioids.

A Prospective Observational Comparison Between Arm and Wrist Blood Pressure During Scheduled Cesarean Delivery.

Background: Shivering is common during cesarean delivery (CD) under neuraxial anesthesia and may disrupt the measurement of noninvasive blood pressure (BP). BP measured at the wrist may be less affected by shivering. There have been no studies comparing trends in BP measured on the upper arm and wrist.

Outcomes of patients with trauma and intraoperative cardiac arrest.

Background: Although the occurrence of intraoperative cardiac arrest is rare, it is a severe adverse event with a high mortality rate. Trauma patients have additional causes for intraoperative arrest, and we hypothesised that the survival of trauma patients who experienced intraoperative cardiac arrest would be worse than nontrauma patients who experienced intraoperative cardiac arrest.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to compare the outcomes of trauma and nontrauma patients after intraoperative cardiac arrest.