Premium
Extension of epidural blockade for emergency Caesarean section
Author(s) -
Dickson M. A. S.,
Jenkins J.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
anaesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.839
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1365-2044
pISSN - 0003-2409
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2044.1994.tb14239.x
Subject(s) - medicine , caesarean section , bupivacaine , anesthesia , bolus (digestion) , neuraxial blockade , epidural block , blockade , local anaesthetic , pregnancy , surgery , spinal anesthesia , genetics , receptor , biology
Summary A safe and predictable method by which an epidural infusion sufficient for pain control in labour can be rapidly converted to a more intense block adequate for emergency Caesarean section continues to present a challenge. A prospective study was undertaken. The routine use of a bolus dose of 10 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine was assessed as a top‐up for emergency Caesarean section following a 0.1% infusion for labour. This produced an adequate block in 11 out of 18 patients. There were no significant differences in duration of infusion, cumulative local anaesthetic dose or pre‐existing block height in these patients when compared with the remaining seven patients who required an additional top‐up.