It has been reported that women of childbearing age constitute a large percentage of the new cases of HIV/AIDS infection. Consequently, it is not uncommon to find pregnant women who are HIV positive. Because of the increased prevalence of HIV infection in pregnant women, many anesthesiologists encounter these patients in their practices. Infection with HIV in pregnancy often raises questions about the safety of regional anesthesia in these patients. This controversy first began when it was suggested that the introduction of a spinal needle in an HIV-infected parturient would spread the disease into the CNS, leading to the development of neurological sequelae of this disease. Nevertheless, recent analysis of the problem has shown HIV infection should not contraindicate regional anesthesia.
Anesthesia, Obstetrical/*methods ; Anti-HIV Agents/*therapeutic use ; Female ; HIV Infections/*drug therapy ; Human ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/*virology

OBJECTIVETo observe the characteristics of uterine contraction and stages of labor during delivery under continuous epidural block anesthesia.

METHODSTotaling 213 parturients in spontaneous labor under epidural block anesthesia with dilated cervical orifice of 3 cm were monitored for the contraction cycle, duration, intensity and curve types of uterine contraction, and recordings were made for 30 min before and 30, 60 and 120 min after the anesthesia took effect, respectively. The duration of the active phase in the first, second and third stages of labor was compared between 421 cases with anesthesia and 237 without anesthesia.

RESULTSSignificant difference was noted in the objective indexes of uterine contraction recorded after anesthesia had taken effect (P<0.05) in comparison with those before anesthesia, suggesting significantly attenuated uterine contraction after anesthesia, whereas these indexes underwent no significant further variation as compared between different time points after anesthesia (P>0.05). The average active phase in the first stage was significantly shorter in anesthesia group than that in the control group (P<0.05), but the average duration of the second and third stages of labor differed little between the two groups with appropriate use of oxytocin under strict monitoring (P>0.05). The rates of obstetric forceps utilization and use of oxytocin were higher in anesthesia group than in the control group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONEpidural block anesthesia produces certain influences on uterine contraction and stages of labor during delivery, for which appropriate treatment measures may prove beneficial.

Adult ; Anesthesia, Epidural ; methods ; Anesthesia, Obstetrical ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Labor, Obstetric ; physiology ; Pregnancy ; Time Factors ; Uterine Contraction ; drug effects ; Uterus ; drug effects ; physiology

PURPOSE: We aimed to determine whether head elevation during combined spinal-epidural anesthesia (CSE) and Caesarean section provided improved hemodynamics and appropriate sensory block height. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-four parous women undergoing CSE for elective Caesarean section were randomly assigned to one of two groups: right lateral (group L) or right lateral and head elevated (group HE) position, for insertion of the block. Patients were positioned in the supine wedged position (group L) or the left lateral and head elevated position (group HE) until a block height of T5 to light touch was reached. Group HE was then turned to the supine wedged position with maintenance of head elevation until the end of surgery. Hemodynamics, including the incidence of hypotension, ephedrine dose required, and characteristics of the sensory blocks were analyzed. RESULTS: The incidence of hypotension (16 versus 7, p=0.0035) and the required dose of ephedrine [24 (0-40) versus 0 (0-20), p<0.0001] were greater in group L compared to group HE. In group L, the time to achieve maximal sensory block level (MSBL) was shorter (11.8+/-5.4 min versus 20.1+/-6.3 min, p<0.0001) and MSBL was also higher than in group HE [14 (T2) versus 12 (T4), p=0.0015]. CONCLUSION: Head elevation during CSE and Caesarean section is superior to positioning without head elevation in the lateral to supine position, as it is associated with a more gradual onset, appropriate block height, and improved hemodynamics.
Adult ; Anesthesia, Epidural/*methods ; Anesthesia, Obstetrical/*methods ; Anesthesia, Spinal/*methods ; Blood Pressure/physiology ; Cesarean Section/*methods ; Elective Surgical Procedures/methods ; Female ; Head ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Patient Positioning/*methods ; Pregnancy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of sufentanil administered intrathecally at different doses on the clinical effect of bupivacaine spinal anesthesia in gynecologic laparoscopy.

METHODSSixty patients with ectopic pregnancy undergoing elective laparoscopy (ASA class I-II) were randomized into 4 groups (groups A, B, C and D), and received spinal anesthesia with 15 mg bupivacaine and sufentanil at 0, 2.5, 5 and 7.5 microg, respectively. When the patients complained of discomforts, showed bodily movements, had heart rate over 100 beats/min, or showed blood pressure increment by 20%, additional doses of propofol were given. The onset time of sensory block, time to Bromage scale 3 motor block, time to the highest sensory block level, time of operation and recovery from anesthesia, and the total dosages of propofol were recorded along with the sedative score and the side effects.

RESULTSThe 4 groups were comparable for age, body weight, height and operation time (range 60-65 min) (P>0.05). Both the onset time of sensory block and the time of Bromage scale 3 motor block in groups C and D were significantly shorter than those in groups A and B (P<0.05). The time of the highest sensory block in group D was shorter than that in group A (P<0.05). Compared to the group A, the dose of propofol was reduced in groups B, C, and D by 7.1%, 28.1%, and 34.8%, respectively; propofol doses in groups C and D were significantly lower than those in groups A and B (P<0.05). Pruritus associated with the spinal anesthesia occurred in 4 (26.7%), 3 (20%), and 6 (40%) cases in groups B, C and D, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSIntrathecal sufentanil dose-dependently affect the effect of bupivacaine spinal anesthesia, and larger sufentanil dose produces better effects but more side effects. According to our results, 5.0 microg is the optimal dose for sufentanil.

Adult ; Analgesics, Opioid ; administration & dosage ; Anesthesia, Obstetrical ; methods ; Anesthesia, Spinal ; methods ; Anesthetics, Local ; administration & dosage ; Bupivacaine ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Injections, Spinal ; Laparoscopy ; methods ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic ; surgery ; Sufentanil ; administration & dosage ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Venous air embolism (VAE) is the entrapment of air or medical gases into the venous system causing symptoms and signs of pulmonary vessel obstruction. The incidence of VAE during cesarean delivery ranges from 10 to 97% depending on surgical position or diagnostic tools, with a potential for life-threatening events. We reviewed extensive literatures regarding VAE in detail and herein described VAE during surgery including cesarean delivery from background and history to treatment and prevention. It is intended that present work will improve the understanding of VAE during surgery.
Anesthesia, Obstetrical/adverse effects ; Cesarean Section/*adverse effects ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal/methods ; Embolism, Air/*diagnosis/prevention & control/*ultrasonography ; Female ; Humans ; Intraoperative Complications/ultrasonography ; Monitoring, Intraoperative/methods ; Obstetrics/methods ; Pregnancy ; Risk Factors ; Ultrasonography, Doppler/methods

OBJECTIVETo determine the optimal dose of colloid preload, which is both safe and effective, for preventing hypotension in parturients undergoing cesarean section under spinal anesthesia.

METHODSForty-five healthy, termed parturients scheduled for cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia were randomly assigned to 3 colloid preload groups to receive gelofusine infusion at the rates of 5, 10, or 15 ml·kg(-1)·h(-1) (groups I, II, and III, respectively). Colloid preload was administered 10 min before spinal anesthesia and maintained until the delivery. Blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) of the parturients were monitored during the operation, and Apgar scores at 1 and 5 min after birth were recorded. S100β protein concentration and blood gas values of the umbilical artery were also measured. The vascular adaptation in the placental villous capillary was evaluated stereologically.

RESULTSAt each time point of measurement, BP and HR showed no significant differences among the 3 groups during the operation (P>0.05), but within the same group, BP and HR underwent significant variations during the operation; groups II and III maintained more stable hemodynamics compared to group I. Apgar scores and blood gas analysis, pH value, and S100β protein in the umbilical artery showed no significant differences among the 3 groups (P>0.05). The 3 groups exhibited no significant differences in the length and volume density of the placental villous capillaries (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONColloid preload with gelofusine administered at the rate of 10 ml·kg(-1)·h(-1) can reduce the incidence and severity of hypotension in cesarean section under spinal anesthesia with the least adverse maternal and fetal effects.

Adult ; Anesthesia, Obstetrical ; Anesthesia, Spinal ; Cesarean Section ; methods ; Colloids ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Fetal Blood ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hypotension ; prevention & control ; Nerve Growth Factors ; blood ; Placenta ; blood supply ; Polygeline ; administration & dosage ; Pregnancy ; S100 Proteins ; blood