Unit 11: Across the Lifespan Flashcards
How does pregnancy affect minute ventilation?
Progesterone is a respiratory stimulant – Increases minute ventilation up to 50%
-Vt increases by 40%
-RR increases by 10%
How does pregnancy affect the mother’s arterial blood gas?
Arterial pH = no change
PaO2 = Increased (104-108 mmHg)
PaCO2 = Decreased (28-32 mmHg)
HCO3 = Decreased (20 mmol/L)
-progesterone = respiratory stimulant –> minute ventilation increases 50% –> Mom’s PaCO2 falls and develops respiratory alkalosis
-renal compensation eliminates bicarb to normalize blood pH
-small reduction in physiologic shunt explains mild increase in PaO2 –> increases driving pressure of O2 across the fetoplacental interface and improves fetal gas exchange
How does pregnancy affect the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve?
Right Shift (increases P50) –> Facilitates O2 unloading to the fetus
How does pregnancy affect the lung volumes and capacities?
FRC is reduced (decreased expiratory reserve volume and residual volume) – ERV decreases more than RV
*increased oxygen consumption paired with decreased FRC hastens the onset of hypoxemia
How does cardiac output change during pregnancy and delivery?
Cardiac Output - increases 40%
-heart rate increases 15%
-stroke volume increases 30%
-uterus receives 10% of the CO
-uterine contraction causes autotransfusion (increased preload)
Compared to pre-labor values, CO during labor:
-increases 20% in 1st stage
-increases 50% in 2nd stage
-increases 80% in 3rd stage
-CO returns to pre-labor values in 24-48hr
-CO returns to pre-pregnancy values in ~2 weeks
*twins cause CO to increase 20% above a single fetus pregnancy
How do blood pressure and systemic vascular resistance change during pregnancy?
MAP = no change
SBP= no change
DBP = decreases 15%
*increased blood volume + decreased SVR = net even effect on MAP
SVR = decreases 15%
PVR = decreases 30%
*progesterone causes increased nitric oxide (vasodilation) and decreased response to angiotensin and norepi
Who is at risk for aortocaval compression, how do you treat it?
In supine position – gravid uterus compresses both the vena cava and the aorta – decreases venous return to the heart as well as arterial flow to the uterus and lower extremities
-decreased CO compromises fetal perfusion and can also cause the mother to lose consciousness
Treatment: displacing uterus away from the vena cava and aorta can reduce the compressive effects – elevate mother’s right torso 15 degrees
*should be used for anyone in their 2nd and 3rd trimester
How does the intravascular fluid volume change during pregnancy?
Intravascular Fluid - increases 35%
Plasma volume - increases 45%
Erythrocyte volume - increases 20%
What hematologic coagulation changes accompany pregnancy?
-Clotting factors: 1, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 increase
-Anticoagulants: Protein S decreases and no change in Protein C
-Fibrin breakdown increases
-Anto-fibrinolytic system: 11 & 13 decrease
How does MAC change during pregnancy?
Decreased by 30-40%
-probably due to increased progesterone
How does pregnancy affect gastric pH and volume?
Increases gastric volume
Decreases gastric pH
*due to increased gastrin
How does pregnancy affect gastric emptying?
Before onset of labor = no change
After onset of labor = slowed
How does pregnancy affect uterine blood flow?
What is the non-pregnant flow rate vs pregnancy at term flow rate?
Non-Pregnant State = 100 mL/min
Pregnancy at Term = up to 700 mL/min or 10% of CO
What is uterine blood flow dependent on? What conditions can reduce uterine blood flow?
Uterine blood flow does NOT autoregulate – dependent on MAP, CO, and uterine vascular resistance
-decreased perfusion: maternal hypotension (sympathectomy, hemorrhage, aortocaval compression)
-increased resistance: uterine contraction, hypertensive conditions that increase UVR
Which law determines which drugs will pass through the placenta?
Fick’s Principle
Rate of Diffusion = [Diffusion Coefficient x Surface Area x Concentration Gradient (between mom/fetus)] / [Membrane Thickness]
What drug characteristics favor placental transfer?
-Low molecular weight <500 Daltons (most anesthetic drugs are smaller than 500 Daltons)
-High lipid solubility
-Nonionized
-Nonpolar
What are the 3 stages of labor?
Stage 1: beginning of regular contractions to full cervical dilation (10cm)
Stage 2: full cervical dilation to delivery of the fetus (pain in the perineum begins during stage 2)
Stage 3: delivery of the placenta
How does uncontrolled labor pain affect the mother and the fetus?
Increased maternal catecholamines –> HTN –> Reduced uterine blood flow to fetus
Maternal hyperventilation –> Leftward shift of oxyhgb curve –> Reduced O2 delivery to fetus
What spinal levels does the pain that results from the first and second stages of labor originate? What is the quality of pain during each stage?
Stage 1:
- T10-L1 posterior nerve roots
- pain begins in the lower uterine segment and the cervix
- dull, diffuse, cramping
Stage 2:
- S2-S4 posterior nerve roots
- adds in pain impulses from the vagina, perineum, and pelvic floor
- sharp, well localized
What anesthetic techniques can be used for 1st and 2nd stage labor pain? What spinal levels are targets for each stage?
Stage 1 – target T10-L1
- neuraxial (spinal, epidural, CSE)
- paravertebral lumbar sympathetic block
- paracervical block (high risk of fetal bradycardia
*afferent pathway = visceral C fibers hypogastric plexus
Stage 2 – target S2-S4
- neuraxial (spinal, epidural, CSE)
- pudendal nerve block
*afferent pathway = pudendal nerve
Explain the “needle through the needle” technique for CSE
-Epidural space is identified with epidural needle
-Spinal needle is placed through the epidural needle
-Local anesthetic and/or opioid is injected into the intrathecal space
-Spinal needle is removed
-Epidural catheter is threaded through the epidural needle
*CSE provides dual benefit of a rapid onset of spinal anesthesia and the ability to prolong the duration of anesthesia with an indwelling epidural catheter
Compare and contrast bupivacaine and ropivacaine in labor
Bupivacaine = amide, long duration
- racemic mixture
- minimal tachyphylaxis
- low placental transfer d/t increased protein binding and increased ionization
- greater sensory block relative to other LAs
- cardiac toxicity more common with R-enantiomer
- cardiac toxicity occurs before seizures
- 0.75% contraindicated via epidural due to risk of toxicity w/ IV injection
Ropivacaine = amide, long duration
- S-enantiomer of bupivacaine + substitution of propyl group
- when compared to bupivacaine – less risk of CV toxicity, decreased potency, and decreased motor block
Discuss the use of 2-Chloroprocaine for labor
-Useful for emergency c-section when epidural is already in place (very fast onset)
-Metabolized by pseudocholinesterase in the plasma –> minimal placental transfer
-Antagonizes opioid receptors (mu & kappa) and reduces efficacy of epidural morphine
-Risk of arachnoiditis when used for spinal anesthesia due to preservatives
-Solutions without methylparaben and metabisulfite do not cause neurotoxicity
What are the consequences if an epidural is placed in the subdural space?
Within 10-25 minutes after epidural is dosed – patient will experience symptoms of excessive cephalad spread of LA
-subdural space is a potential space (hold very low volume) –> block height for a given amount of LA will be much higher than if the same volume was administered in the epidural space
*neither test dose or aspiration will rule out subdural placement