Difficult intubation in the parturient (original) (raw)
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Special Article: Failed intubation in obstetrics
Failed intubation is prevalent in obstetric patients, more so during the last trimester of pregnancy when physiological factors may worsen the problems that lead to difficult intubation. If securing the airway is not managed efficiently it may have disastrous effects on mother and the fetus. During last few years, management of airway in obstetrics and training in this field has undergone numerous changes. The postgraduate students have been getting lesser exposure to intubation in pregnant patients. As regional anesthesia is increasingly popular in obstetrics, acquiring dexterity in conducting general anesthesia is becoming difficult. There should be a methodical approach to train in managing difficult obstetric airway. Various novel airway devices are now being suggested as an alternative to conventional intubation using laryngoscope. In addition, devices such as simulators should be employed to so that difficult or failed intubation may be managed with required skill. Other vital aspects to deal with this situation include a difficult airway cart that contains alternative airway devices, a comprehensive but practically easy algorithm and a regular drill or training to deal with difficult airway in obstetric patients.
Difficult and failed intubation: Incident rates and maternal, obstetrical, and anesthetic predictors
Canadian Journal of Anesthesia/Journal canadien d'anesthésie, 2011
Background Difficult and failed tracheal intubation may be more common in the obstetrical population. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence of difficult and failed tracheal intubation in a Canadian tertiary care obstetric hospital and to identify predictors. Methods Maternal, perinatal, and anesthetic information on all pregnant women or recently pregnant (up to three days postpartum) women undergoing general anesthesia (GA) from 1984 to 2003 at the Izaac Walton Killam Health Centre (IWK) was abstracted from the Nova Scotia Atlee Perinatal Database, and the information was augmented by chart review. The incidence and predictors of difficult and failed tracheal intubation were determined. Analyses using logistic regression were performed for the complete GA cohort and for the subgroup that had Cesarean delivery under GA. Results There were 102,587 deliveries of C20 weeks gestation in the study population, with 3,107 GAs identified, 2,986 records reviewed, and 2,633 GAs (88%) retained in the complete cohort. Difficult tracheal intubation was encountered in 123 of 2,633 (4.7%) women in the complete cohort and 60 of 1,052 (5.7%) women in the Cesarean delivery subgroup. Only two failed tracheal intubations were identified (0.08%) in the complete cohort, and both occurred during GAs for postpartum tubal ligation. The combined rate of difficult/failed tracheal intubation remained stable over the 20 years reviewed despite decreasing GA rates. Amongst the complete cohort, maternal age C35 yr, weight at delivery 90 to 99 kg, and absence of labour predicted increased risks; while weight at delivery 90 to 99 kg and absence of labour amongst the Cesarean delivery subgroup predicted difficult/failed tracheal intubation. Conclusion Previously accepted risk factors, such as labour, pre-existing medical conditions and obstetrical disorders, did not predict an increased risk of difficult tracheal intubation, while maternal age C35 yr, weight 90 to 99 kg, and absence of active labour were found to predict increased risk.
Difficult Airway in Obstetric Anesthesia: A Review
Obstetrical and Gynecological Survey, 2001
Failed intubation and ventilation are important causes of anesthetic-related maternal mortality. The purpose of this article is to review the complex issues in managing the difficult airway in obstetric patients. The importance of prompt and competent decision making in managing difficult airways, as well as a need for appropriate equipment is emphasized. Four case reports reinforce the importance of a systematic approach to management. The overall preference for regional rather than general anesthesia is strongly encouraged. The review also emphasizes the need for professional and experienced team cooperation between the obstetrician and the anesthesiologist for the successful management of these challenging cases. Target Audience: Obstetricians & Gynecologists, Family Physicians Learning Objectives: After completion of this article, the reader will be able to break down the complex issues in managing the difficult airway in the obstetric patient, outline the reasons for difficult intubations in pregnancy, and describe the evaluation used to predict a difficult intubation.
Indian journal of anaesthesia, 2016
The various physiological changes in pregnancy make the parturient vulnerable for early and rapid desaturation. Severe hypoxaemia during intubation can potentially compromise two lives (mother and foetus). Thus tracheal intubation in the pregnant patient poses unique challenges, and necessitates meticulous planning, ready availability of equipment and expertise to ensure maternal and foetal safety. The All India Difficult Airway Association (AIDAA) proposes a stepwise plan for the safe management of the airway in obstetric patients. These guidelines have been developed based on available evidence; wherever robust evidence was lacking, recommendations were arrived at by consensus opinion of airway experts, incorporating the responses to a questionnaire sent to members of the AIDAA and the Indian Society of Anaesthesiologists (ISA). Modified rapid sequence induction using gentle intermittent positive pressure ventilation with pressure limited to ≤20 cm H2O is acceptable. Partial or co...
Current Medical Research and Opinion, 2017
Objective To describe the incidence of difficult and failed intubations in obstetric patients during a 6-year period monitored by a quality assurance program together with American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status (ASA PS) scores, and obesity (Body mass index > 30 kg/m 2). Methods Following Institutional Review Board approval, data about obstetric patients who experienced unanticipated difficult or failed intubations from 2010-2015 were obtained from the quality assurance database of a large, community-based anesthesiology group practice. The database employs standardized definitions for difficult intubation (greater than 3 laryngoscopic attempts by experienced providers) and failed intubation (inability to intubate leading to surgical airway or waking up the patient). ASA PS scores and co-morbidities were also identified for obstetric general anesthetics using an internally-developed quality assurance program, Quantum™ Clinical Navigation System. Results There were 2802 obstetric general anesthetics in the database of which 1085 (38.7%) were deemed as emergencies. There were no cases of failed intubation and seven cases of unanticipated difficult intubations (1: 400 cases, 0.25% of all obstetric general anesthetics, 95% Confidence Interval 0.1-0.5%), six of which occurred during emergency surgery. There was an increase in obesity (P=0.003) and ASA PS (P=0.02) over the period of the study. The incidence of difficult intubation was not found to be significantly changed (P=0.68). Conclusions Despite an increase in ASA PS score and obesity, there was no increase in the incidence of difficult intubation in obstetric patients. Limitations of the study include its retrospective design, and the small number of difficult intubation cases identified.
Survey of Accepted Practice following Failed Intubation for Emergency Caesarean Delivery
Anesthesiology research and practice, 2015
Background. There is no consensus on the optimum management of failed tracheal intubation in emergency cesarean delivery performed for fetal compromise. The decision making process on whether to wake the patient or continue anesthesia with a supraglottic airway device is an underexplored area. This survey explores perceptions and experiences of obstetric anesthetists managing failed intubation. Methods. Anesthetists attending the Group of Obstetric Anaesthetists London (GOAL) Meeting in April 2014 were surveyed. Results. Ninety-three percent of anesthetists surveyed would not always wake the patient in the event of failed intubation for emergency cesarean delivery performed for fetal compromise. The median (interquartile range) of perceived acceptability of continuing anesthesia with a well-fitting supraglottic airway device, assessed using a visual analogue scale (0-100; 0 completely unacceptable; 100 completely acceptable), was 90 [22.5]. Preoperative patient consent regarding the...
Management of an Unanticipated Difficult Airway during Emergency “C” Section—A Novel Approach
Introduction: Knowledge, skill and training in addition to quick thinking, come to the rescue of Anesthesiologists when encountering an unanticipated difficult airway during emergency Caesarean section. Ability to react with time to spare will ensure maternal and fetal well being while handling this life threatening emergency. Case History: While anesthetizing a 22-year parturient for emergency Caesarean section, the endotracheal tube was inadvertently placed in the esophagus. As the “call for help” was activated, the esophageal tube was delivered thru the endoscopic port of a Patil-Syracuse face mask. After confirming our ability to ventilate the patient without distending the stomach while maintaining the oxygen saturation and end tidal carbon dioxide levels within normal limits, surgery was allowed to proceed under mask anesthesia employing oxygen, nitrous oxide and sevoflurane with rocuronium for muscle relaxation. After a healthy infant was delivered, definitive airway access was obtained with Glidescope? assisted fiberoptic intubation. The esophageal tube was then removed. Further surgery proceeded uneventfully. Discussion: By choosing to deliver the proximal end of the inadvertently placed esophageal tube thru the endoscopic port of a Patil-Syracuse mask and mask ventilating the patient, we have been able to provide that few precious minutes of oxygenation to the distressed fetus before delivery. By isolating and venting the stomach thru the esophageal tube we provided maternal air way protection during the initial phase of the delivery. Definitive airway access was obtained as soon as additional help and equipment were available. Conclusion: Difficult airway algorithm while comprehensive, does not address the question of time management. While dealing with a difficult airway in obstetric anesthesia, time is the single most important factor, which will determine the maternal and fetal well being. We in our case report have attempted to answer that question of “time”.