Obs Anaesthesia

A general review of the features and management of major haemorrhage in obstetric practice.Management of Obstetric Haemorrhage (257) – April 2, 2012

This tutorial highlights the key findings and recommendations from the 2006-2008 report of the Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths in the United Kingdom. Anaesthesia related issues are explored in more detail and important lessons discussed.Saving Mother’s Lives – Key Findings from CEMACE (254) – March 12, 2012

Neurosurgical problems presenting during pregnancy, although rare require special anaesthetic considerations. This tutorial discusses the anaesthetic considerations for these cases.Neurosurgery and the Parturient (253) – March 5, 2012

Worldwide, sepsis is among the leading causes of severe maternal morbidity and mortality. This tutorial explores the early recognition, diagnosis and management of sepsis and septic shock in pregnancy.Maternal Sepsis (235) – August 8, 2011

Adjuvants are drugs that increase the efficacy or potency of other drugs when given concurrently. This tutorial aims to summarise some of the adjuvant agents that are in common use in neuraxial anaesthesia and analgesia.Neuraxial adjuvants (230) – July 4, 2011

Pregnancy in women with mechanical heart valves is associated with an increased risk of maternal and fetal complications and managing the anticoagulation of these patients can be challenging. This case-based tutorial explores the peri-partum management of a woman with a prosthetic mitral heart valve who experiences complications following delivery. Management of pregnant women with mechanical heart valves – A case based discussion (214) – February 21, 2011

This tutorial aims to highlight the importance of VTE/PE in obstetric patients and to examine the major risk factors associated with VTE/PE in pregnancy. It provides recommendations on the safe management of labour and delivery for women on prophylactic or therapeutic anticoagulation. It will only briefly touch on issues related to the diagnosis and management of women with confirmed VTE/PE in pregnancy.Venous thromboembolism and obstetric anaesthesia (207) – November 29, 2010

This tutorial discusses the rare but potentially fatal topic of amniotic fluid embolus.Amniotic fluid embolism (197) – September 20, 2010

Acute Fatty Liver of Pregnancy is a rare but occasionally fatal disorder of late pregnancy. This tutorial discusses the pathophysiology, epidemiology and management of this condition and how prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment has greatly improved the prognosis for both mother and babyFatty Liver of Pregnancy (191) – August 9, 2010

This tutorial explores the issues in providing anaesthesia for women who are pregnant and undergoing non-obstetric surgery. It covers some of the major differences in anaesthesia for pregnant women and how to provide safe care for both the mother and developing baby.Anaesthesia in pregnancy for non-obstetric surgery (185) – June 28, 2010

Post-dural puncture headache is unpleasant, may interfere with a new mothers ability to care for her newborn and is occasionally associated with more serious complications such as subdural haematoma. This tutorial explores the pathogenesis of the headache and effective strategies for its management.Post dural puncture headache (181) – June 1, 2010

This tutorial examines the common causes of trauma in pregnancy, the mechanisms of injury and strategies to most effectively manage the mother and unborn child.Trauma in pregnancy (172) – March 1, 2010

This is the first of a series of obstetric anaesthetic case based discussions. The clinical cases presented include a number of challenges that require consideration of different management strategies. We hope the cases represent ‘real life’ clinical situations. Throughout the progress of each case, guidance and good practice is discussed. We hope these case discussions will complement the understanding of specific areas of obstetric anaesthesia. As in all clinical cases there are often a number of approaches that can be taken and the way each case is ultimately managed, does not necessarily represent the only management strategy.Severe pre-eclampsia, a case based discussion (158) – November 2, 2009

This tutorial examines the problems obesity presents in pregnancy, labour and delivery and the associated challenges of anaesthesia.Obstetric anaesthesia and obesity (141) – July 6, 2009

13th April 2009   Dr David Portch, Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton. Correspondence to [email protected]     QUESTIONS Before continuing, try to answer the following questions.  The answers and a short explanation can be found at the end of the article. 1.    Regarding the causes of maternal death, the following statements are true: a.    Thromboembolism is the […]Saving mothers lives’ – lessons from CEMACH (129) – April 13, 2009

CARDIAC DISEASE IN PREGNANCY: TUTORIAL 2 ATOTW 118, 10TH NOVEMBER 2008 Download pdf: 118-cardiac-disease-in-pregnancy-2 Dr. Abbi Walker, Christchurch Hospital, New Zealand Dr. Matt Rucklidge, Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital, UK [email protected] The second of two tutorials exploring the presentation and management of pregnant women with heart disease. Tutorial 1: • Introduction and scope of the […]Cardiac disease in pregnancy 2 (118) – November 9, 2008

CARDIAC DISEASE IN PREGNANCY: Tutorial 1 TUTORIAL OF THE WEEK 111 8TH SEPTEMEBER 2008 Abbi Walker, Christchurch Hospital, New Zealand Matt Rucklidge, Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital, UK [email protected] The first of two tutorials exploring the presentation and management of pregnant women with heart disease. Tutorial 1: • Introduction and scope of the problem • […]Cardiac disease in pregnancy 1 (111) – September 8, 2008

Part three in the anaesthesia for LSCS series. This tutorial covers the issues relevant to obstetric general anaesthesia.Anaesthesia for caesarian section part 3 – General anaesthesia (97) – June 16, 2008

91 The Foetal CirculationThe foetal circulation (91) – May 18, 2008

85 Anaesthesia for LSCS part 2 – RegionalAnaesthesia for Caesarian section part 2 – Regional anaesthesia (85) – April 12, 2008

83 Anaesthesia for LSCS part 1 – IntroductionAnaesthesia for caesarian section part 1 – Introduction (83) – April 3, 2008

Management of the collapsed pregnant patient
Maternal collapse (57) – June 4, 2007

Obstetric haemorrhage is often sudden, unexpected and may be associated with coagulopathy. Early recognition and treatment are essential to ensure the best outcome.Management of obstetric haemorrhage (41) – January 1, 2007

Changes in coagulation affect the mode of delivery and the approach to analgesia and anaesthesia in patients with hypocoagulable disorders. This tutorial covers the pathophysiology and management of coagulation disorders in pregnancy.Coagulation disorders in pregnancy (31) – August 24, 2006

Pregnancy causes major physiological changes to the mother’s body. An understanding of these changes is the key to safe obstetric anaesthesia. The causes of these changes are initially hormonal; metabolic and mechanical factors also contribute as the fetus develops.Anatomical and physiological changes in pregnancy (25) – May 25, 2006

An overview of complications of neuraxial analgesia and anaesthesia in obstetrics and their managementComplications of regional anaesthesia in obstetrics (15) – December 1, 2005

This tutorial covers both regional and non-regional techniques. It gives details of the risks and benefits of each.Analgesia for labour (8) – June 29, 2005

Hypertensive diseases of pregnancy are still a common cause of maternal death. Pre-eclampsia complicates up to 8% of pregnancies in the developed world. This tutorial discusses the pathophysiology, management and anaesthetic implicationsof pre-eclampsia.Pre-eclampsia (2) – May 10, 2005