Increasing the effciency of spinal anesthesia in a cesarean section in pregnant women with diabetes mellitus

Objective. To increase the effciency of spinal anesthesia (SA) in operative delivery of pregnant women with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM).Materials and methods. A dynamic assessment of the clinical effciency of spinal anesthesia in cesarean sections was performed in 123 pregnant women with DM. The level of the sensor and motor block was determined depending on the dose of a 0.5% hyperbaric solution of bupivacaine calculated according to the original method.Results. The SA method in cesarean sections in pregnant women with diabetes mellitus has been proposed taking into account the dosage of a hyperbaric solution of bupivacaine depending on the patient`s height and gestational age. The application of this method provided the development of the necessary degree of the sensory and motor block by the eight minute and created the requisite conditions for a cesarean section.Conclusion. The proposed method of the calculation of the hyperbaric solution dosage for subarachnoid anesthesia taking into account the patients` height and gestational age makes it possible to ensure the necessary degree of the sensor block at the level of 4-5 thoracic segments and suffcient relaxation in the surgical area during a cesarean section.

Efficacy of Intrathecal Neostigmine with Intrathecal Dexmedetomidine in Postoperative Analgesia

Background: The present study was conducted to compare the efficacy of intrathecal neostigmine with intrathecal dexmedetomidine in postop- erative analgesia. Subjects and Methods: The present study was conducted in the department of Anesthesia involving 100 patients belonging to ASA grade I and II, posted for elective Sub umbilical surgeries, under spinal anaesthesia. Group I patients received 3.0ml of hyperbaric solution of 0.5% bupivacaine + 50mcg (0.5ml) of Neostigmine. Group II patients received 3.0ml of hyperbaric solution of 0.5% bupivacaine + 10mcg (0.5ml) of dexmedetomidine. Results: The maximum patients were seen in age group 18-30 years ie 10 in group I and 16 in group II and minimum in 41-50 years ie 6 in group I and 4 in group II. The mean time for onset of sensory block in group I was 1.43 0.53 min and in group II was 2.319 0.44 min. The mean time for onset of peak sensory block in group I was 5.48 0.43 min and Group II was 7.31 0.44 min. Time for two segment regression was significantly higher in dexmedetomidine group as compared to neostigmine group, the mean time for two segment regression in group I was 124.98 21.48 min and group II was 165.24 14.45 min. The mean time for onset of motor block was 3.079 0.44 min in group I and 4.0454 0.38 min in group II. The mean duration of motor block in group I was 191.58 26.81 min and 324 36.8 min in group II. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). The mean sedation score in group I was 1.03 and in group II was 2.07. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). Conclusion: Authors recommend the use of dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to bupivacaine in subarachnoid block

The effectiveness of using self-made hyperbaric solution of bupivacaine for unilateral spinal anesthesia

The main idea of this research was to determine the effectiveness of holding the unilateral spinal anesthesia in comparison with total, positive and negative effects of these manipulations. In Ukrainian medical practice, the technique of spinal anesthesia for analgesia of surgical interventions on the abdominal cavity and lower extremities has been introduced for a long time. One of the main methods is unilateral spinal anesthesia. The study compared: the effectiveness of anesthesia, the duration of anesthesia, the volume of infusion therapy during surgery and the reaction of the cardiovascular system to the manipulations.

Cerebrospinal Fluid and Spinal Cord Distribution of Hyperbaric Bupivacaine and Baclofen during Slow Intrathecal Infusion in Pigs

Background Despite the widespread use of implanted pumps for continuous intrathecal drug delivery, there have been no studies aimed at defining the effect of baricity and posture on drug distribution in the cerebrospinal fluid and spinal cord during the very slow infusion rates typically used for chronic intrathecal drug administration. Methods Intrathecal microdialysis probes were placed at six points along the neuraxis in both the anterior and posterior intrathecal space of anesthetized pigs to permit cerebrospinal fluid sampling. Animals were then positioned either vertically or horizontally (prone), and a hyperbaric solution containing bupivacaine (7.5 mg/ml) and baclofen (2 mg/ml) was infused at 20 microl/h for 6 h, while the cerebrospinal fluid was collected for measurement of drug concentration. At the end of the experiment, the animals were killed, and the spinal cord was removed and divided into 1-cm sections that were further divided into anterior and posterior portions for measurement of drug concentration. Results Bupivacaine and baclofen distribution was biased caudally in the vertical group and cephalad in the horizontal group. Drug concentration decreased rapidly in the cerebrospinal fluid and spinal cord as a function of distance from the site of administration in both groups, resulting in most drugs being located in very close proximity to the site of infusion. Conclusion Even at very slow infusion rates, drug distribution within the cerebral spinal fluid and spinal cord are affected by baricity/posture. These findings suggest that patient position and solution baricity may be important clinical factors determining the distribution and ultimate efficacy of chronic intrathecal drug infusions.

First report on spinal hyperbaric opioids in horses

This study is the first to report the use of spinal hyperbaric opioids in horses injected through a lumbar-sacral subarachnoid catheter. The injection of hyperbaric subarachnoid morphine and methadone produced short term intense analgesia over the dermatomes of the perineal, sacral, lumbar, and thoracic areas without cardiorespiratory depression, ataxia or central nervous system excitement. The technique involves the use of 10% dextrose as a hyperbaric solvent producing an average hyperbaric solution with a specific gravity of 1030. The use of spinal hyperbaric opioids in horses can be recommended for short term moderate to severe pain management in this species.

Spinal Anesthesia With Tetracaine in 0.75% Glucose: Influence of the Vertebral Interspace Used for Injection

Background and ObjectivesThe anesthetic behavior and hemodynamic consequences of spinal anesthesia with marginally hyperbaric tetracaine containing a low concentration of glucose injected at two different interspaces were examined and compared with those of conventionally hyperbaric solution.MethodsOne-hundred twenty ASA Physical Status I or II patients scheduled for elective surgery to the lower limb were sequentially assigned to one of three equal groups to receive spinal anesthesia: Group 1 received 0.5% tetracaine in 0.75% glucose with 0.125% phenylephrine at the L2-L3 interspace; group 2 0.5% tetracaine in 0.75% glucose with 0.125% phenylephrine at the L3-L4 interspace; group 3 0.5% tetracaine in 7.5% glucose with 0.125% phenylephrine at the L3-L4 interspace. Neural block was assessed in a double-blinded manner by cold, pinprick, and touch sensation, and a modified Bromage scale after the injection of the study drug.ResultsInjection at the L2-L3 interspace produced significantly higher spread of analgesia [median T7 (10th, 90th percentiles T10, T4)] than injection at L3-L4 interspace [T10 (L1, T5)] when using the solution in 0.75% glucose. There were no significant differences in peak dermatomal levels between groups 1 and 3, but the number of patients who required ephedrine for the treatment of hypotension was larger in group 3.ConclusionsA marginally hyperbaric tetracaine solution injected at the L2-L3 interspace with the patient in the lateral position produced greater extent of cephalad spread than that at the L3-L4 interspace. When compared to a conventionally hyperbaric tetracaine solution injected at the L3-L4 interspace, the marginally hyperbaric solution injected at the L2-L3 interspace caused less hemodynamic variability despite similar levels of maximum sensory block.