Labor, Vaginal & Cesarean Delivery Flashcards
Analgesic options for 1st stage labor pain:
-neuraxial block
-paravertebral lumbar sympathetic block
-Paracervical block
Analgesic options for 2nd stage labor pain
Neuraxial block
Pudendal nerve block
Where is pain in the first stage of labor?
Caused mainly from lower uterine contractions
begins in the lower uterine segment and the cervix
Where do pain signals travel in the first stage of labor?
T10-L1 posterior nerve roots
Where do pain signals travel in the 2nd stage of labor?
from perineum to the S2-S4 posterior nerve roots
Where is the pain felt during the 2nd stage of labor?
perineal structures via pudendal nerve
adds in pain impulses from the vagina, perineum and pelvic floor
What are the risks of a paracervical block?
accidental injection into the uterine artery
Fetal local anesthetic toxicity
Nerve injury and/or hematoma
High risk of fetal bradycardia
Afferent pathway of the uterus and cervix:
Visceral C fibers hypogastric plexus
Afferent pathway of the perineum
Pudendal nerve
which local anesthetic reduces the efficacy of epidural morphine?
2-chloroprocaine
(antagonizes mu and kappa receptors)
When administered alone, what are the benefits of neuraxial opioids?
No loss of sensation or proprioception
no sympathectomy (superior hemodynamic stability)
they do not impair mom’s ability to push
What opioid has local anesthetic properties?
Meperidine
What are the most common side effects of neuraxial opioids?
Puritus
N/V
sedation
respiratory depression
They don’t meaningfully depress the fetus
Bupivacaine class and DOA:
Amide
Long duration
Ropivacaine class and DOA
Amide
Long DOA
Levobupivacaine class and DOA
Amide
Long DOA
Lidocaine class and DOA
Amide
Intermediate duration
2-Chloroprocaine class and DOA
Ester
Short duration
What is the risk if lidocaine is given in the subarachnoid space?
Neurotoxicity
Why is lidocaine not popular for labor analgesia?
Strong motor block (better for c-sections)
Tachyphylaxis can occur with continuous infusions and it crosses the placenta to a greater degree than alternatives
15 mins after a pts epidural was dosed, the pt becomes hypotensive and experiences resp. arrest. What is the MOST likely etiology?
A. epidural catheter migration
B. Loss of accessory respiratory muscle strength
C. Subdural injection
D. Eclampsia
C. subdural injection
Ways that a patient can develop a total spinal:
1.) An epidural dose injected into the subarachnoid space
2.) An epidural dose injected into the subdural space (s/Sx may be delayed)
3.) a single shot spinal after a failed epidural block
Treatment for total spinal:
Supportive:
-airway management
-IVF
-Vasopressors
-left uterine displacement
-leg elevation
Presentation of total spinal:
Dyspnea
difficulty phonating
hypotension
LOC d/t hypoperfusion secondary to severe HoTN
Anesthetic implications for Caesarean section under general anesthesia include:
A. administration of a dopamine agonist
B. prolonged neonatal respiratory depression
C. Increased MAC
D. rapid sequence induction
D. RSI
An obstetric pt at 33 weeks gestation requires a laparoscopic appendectomy. Which drug presents the greatest risk to fetal well-being?
A. ketorolac
B. succinylcholine
C. propofol
D. Morphine
A. ketorolac
After the first trimester, NSAIDs can close the ductus arteriosus
while no anesthetic is a proven teratogen in humans, its wise to stay with drugs w a long track record for safety such as propofol, opioids, NMB, and inhalation agents
Most significant fetal risks with maternal nonobstetric procedures:
growth restriction
low birth weight
demise
increased incidence of preterm labor
Highest risk= intraabdominal and pelvic surgery
appendectomy and cholecystectomy most common
How long would be ideal to wait to have a procedure after giving birth?
6 weeks after delivery
If one cannot wait to have a surgical procedure and is pregnant, what trimester is the best time for surgery?
2nd trimester (12-24 wks.)
At how many weeks is the pregnant patient always considered a “full stomach”?
18-20 wks.
May be earlier if pt has symptoms of GERD
Also applies to the immediate postpartum period
Why is hyperventilation bad?
reduces placental blood flow (risk of fetal asphyxia)
Teratogenicity can occur any time during pregnancy but the risk is highest during:
organogenesis (day 13-60)
(3-8 wks)
Aspiration prophylaxis:
-non-particulate antacid (sodium citrate)
-H2 antagonist (ranitidine) 1 hr before induction
-Gastric prokinetic (metoclopramide) 1 hr before induction
Teratogens are:
substances that act to irreversibly alter growth, structure, or function of the developing embryo
a major malformation is defined as:
one that is incompatible with survival (anencephaly), one that requires major surgery for correction (cleft palate, heart disease) or one that causes mental retardation
Fetal pH is lower or higher than maternal pH?
LOWER
Whats the risk with fetal acidosis?
it can significantly increase the fetal concentration of drugs such as local anesthetics
On average, women take ____ drugs during pregnancy
4
The US Food and Drug Administration has implemented the:
The pregnancy and lactation labeling rule
Which two drug categories have a high risk for adverse fetal effects?
Anticonvulsants and antidepressants
what is the safest analgesic in pregnancy?
Acetaminophen (NSAIDs should be avoided)
Which 2 cardiac drug classes should be avoided during pregnancy?
ACEIs and ARBs
What is an up-to-date resource for the safety of drugs during breast feeding?
LactMed
What class of meds is not recommended during breast-feeding?
oral opioids- codeine and tramadol
Which anesthetics may interfere with reproductive physiology in vitro?
Local anesthetics
nitrous oxide
volatile halogenated agents
what are some of the symptoms that can occur during ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome?
ascites
pleural effusion
hemoconcentration
oliguria
thromboembolic events
problems of early pregnancy:
ectopic pregnancy
cerclage
molar pregnancy
dilation and curettage
dilation and evacuation
what is cervical insufficiency?
the inability of the cervix to hold a pregnancy in the uterus through the 2nd trimester in the absence of labor
Most common cerclage procedures:
Shirodkar cerclage
McDonald cerclage
What is a molar pregnancy?
an abnormality of the placenta caused by a problem when the egg and sperm join together at fertilization
also called gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD), hydatidiform mole
Anesthetic considerations for GTD
Normal GA
2 PIV
immediate availability of blood
etomidate if unstable
Oxytocin infusion 6-15IU per hr after dilation.
Abortion:
pregnancy loss or termination before 20 wks gestation or when fetus weighs less than 500g
Anesthetic considerations for D&C/D&E
-MAC
-1 PIV
-if more than 15 wks gestation w large fetal size/fetal ossification GA
-Oxytocin available / ergot alkaloid
-observe for HoTN for 5 mins after legs down
-TYPE AND SCREEN
Anesthetic agents deemed safe:
thiopental
morphine
meperidine
fentanyl
succinylcholine
NDMRs
What class of medications have been linked to congenital abnormalities (especially in wks 3-8?)
Benzodiazepines
Nitrous oxide should be avoided in the 1st and 2nd trimesters d/t potential teratogenic effects and its interference with:
B12 metabolism
volatile anesthetics may suppress:
preterm labor
Also decrease uterine tone
TRUE OF FALSE:
nearly all opioids cross placenta and depress fetus?
TRUE
loss of beat-to-beat variability and decreased movement complicate evaluation