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Biomedical subjects

B M Morgan

Publications and source records attributed to B M Morgan.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Effect of maternal ambulation on labour with low-dose combined spinal-epidural analgesia.

Two hundred and twenty-nine nulliparous women who requested regional analgesia during labour were given a combined spinal-epidural block. They were randomly allocated to stay in bed or spend at least 20 min of every hour out of bed. There was no significant difference in duration of labour, analgesia requirements, mode of delivery or condition of the baby between the groups. Ambulation appeared to be safe for the mother and baby. Maternal satisfaction with the low-dose combined spinal-epidural was high in both groups.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Comparison of midwife top-ups, continuous infusion and patient-controlled epidural analgesia for maintaining mobility after a low-dose combined spinal-epidural.

We studied 133 women given a combined spinal-epidural for analgesia in labour. The initial intrathecal dose contained bupivacaine 2.5 mg with fentanyl 25 micrograms. When the mothers were comfortable, they were allocated randomly to one of three groups: continuous infusion (group Cl, n = 46), midwife top-ups (group MW, n = 43) or patient-controlled epidural analgesia (group PCEA, n = 44), to maintain analgesia throughout labour. All epidural solutions contained 0.1% bupivacaine and fentanyl 2 micrograms ml-1. Motor block was assessed by the mother's ability to straight leg raise (SLR). Four hours after combined spinal-epidural analgesia, 88.1% of women could SLR in group MW, 83.7% in group PCEA and 57.8% in group Cl (P = 0.002). Total use of bupivacaine was highest in group Cl (mean 11.3 (SD 3.3) mg h-1) compared with group MW (7.5 (3.1) mg h-1) and group PCEA (9.1 (2.1) mg h-1) (P < 0.001). Analgesia was similar between groups and overall satisfaction was equally high.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Comparison of 15 mg and 25 mg of bupivacaine both with 50 microg fentanyl as initial dose for epidural analgesia.

Bupivacaine 15 mg is commonly used as a test dose prior to the initial dose for epidural analgesia in labour. When 15 mg or 25 mg of bupivacaine (15 ml of 0.1% or 0.167%) with 50 microg fentanyl was administered blindly to two groups of labouring women, as an initial dose, 83% and 90% of women respectively, achieved analgesia within 20 min. All the remaining women achieved analgesia with a further dose of 10 mg bupivacaine (10 m10.1%) with fentanyl 2 microg per ml given at 20 min.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1995

Factors associated with mothers selecting general anesthesia for lower segment caesarean section.

The objective of the study was to investigate the sociodemographic and psychological factors which are associated with choice or refusal of regional anesthesia for lower segment Caesarean section. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered preoperatively to consecutive women presenting for elective operation at two hospital sites in the same health authority. The questionnaires were administered to 39 pregnant women by two anesthetists, one at each site. Sociodemographic and past and present obstetric and anesthetic details were obtained. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale and the FEAR questionnaire were used with an additional visual analog scale to assess fearfulness associated with the proposed operation. A 'panic checklist' of ten items was also constructed to identify procedures associated with feelings of panic. Ten women requested general anesthesia. These women had a similar level of anxiety to the others, but were significantly more depressed, had had more pregnancies overall and more without live babies. There were also more aspects of the procedure at which they thought they might panic. Women who have suffered the loss of a conception with its associated grief and often obstetric intervention are more reluctant to be conscious during an operative delivery for a subsequent baby. Preventive measures should be considered at the time of fetal loss to avoid this. However, preoperatively a simple visual analog scale for fearfulness would identify these women so that any unresolved fears could receive full psychological assessment.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1994

Combined spinal epidural (CSE) analgesia: technique, management, and outcome of 300 mothers.

Epidural analgesia in labour is commonly associated with some degree of lower limb weakness often severe enough to be described as paralysis by the mother. We aimed to produce rapid reliable analgesia with no motor block throughout labour. We report a pilot survey of 300 consecutive women requesting regional analgesia in labour who received a combined spinal epidural blockade (CSE). The initial dose was given into the subarachnoid space and analgesia maintained via an epidural catheter. A subarachnoid injection of 2.5 mg bupivacaine and 25 mug fentanyl was successfully given in 268 women (89.3%). Completely pain-free contractions within 3 min of this injection occurred in 195 women (65%) and in all 300 within 20 min and there was no associated motor block in 291 (97%). 141 women chose to stand, walk or sit in a rocking chair at some time during labour. Only 38 women (12.6%) were immobile during the first stage of labour. Analgesia was maintained via the epidural catheter with bolus doses of 10-15 ml of 0.1% bupivacaine and 0.0002% fentanyl. The mean bupivacaine requirement was 9.5 mg/h throughout the entire duration of analgesia. The incidence of post lumbar puncture headache was 2.3%. Transient hypotension occurred in 24 women (8%) and was treated with 6 mg intravenous boluses of ephedrine. Complete satisfaction with analgesia and mobility was reported 12-24 h post partum by 95% of mothers. The use of this analgesic technique caused no alteration in obstetric management or post partum care of the women.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1994

Meningitis after combined spinal-extradural anaesthesia in obstetrics.

We report two cases of meningitis which developed after combined spinal-extradural procedures for obstetric analgesia. The first case was thought to be caused by aseptic or chemical meningitis and the second was a case of bacterial meningitis in a patient who also received an extradural blood patch. It is important that meningitis is considered as a differential diagnosis in patients who present with headache after spinal anaesthesia and that antibiotic therapy is selected to cover unusual organisms.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Flow characteristics of long spinal needles.

A 120 mm, 27-gauge needle has recently been introduced for subarachnoid anaesthesia when using a single-space, combined spinal-extradural technique. The flow characteristics of this needle were compared with those of a 120 mm, 26-gauge needle using a pressure monitor infusion pump. Surprisingly, the resistance to fluid flow of the 26-gauge needle was twice that of the 27-gauge needle. The results of this experiment were confirmed by the findings of a clinical study undertaken in 100 obstetric patients who required regional anaesthesia. The time taken from dural puncture to appearance of cerebrospinal fluid at the hub of the needle was on average three times greater with the 26-gauge needle.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Single space combined spinal-extradural technique for analgesia in labour.

We have used the single space combined spinal-extradural technique for mothers requesting analgesia in labour. Intrathecal plain bupivacaine 5 mg produced a median time to analgesia of 3 min. There was inadequate abdominal analgesia after 10 min in 16% of recipients, although all had good perineal analgesia. The median height of block was T8 (range T4-L2) and mean duration of analgesia 72 (SD 21) min. Hypotension occurred in two of 30 mothers, but responded to fluids and ephedrine. There were no post-spinal headaches. This technique is suitable for those parturients requesting analgesia in active labour who may not have time to achieve extradural analgesia before delivery. The extradural catheter is used to improve analgesia if the subarachnoid block is inadequate, or if labour continues beyond the duration of the subarachnoid block.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Extending epidural blockade for emergency caesarean section. Evaluation of 2% lignocaine with adrenaline.

Pre-existing epidural analgesia was rapidly extended in 36 consecutive patients presenting for emergency caesarean section by using 20 ml of 2% lignocaine + 1/200,000 adrenaline freshly prepared given by slow bolus injection. Despite a wide range of initial analgesic sensory levels the technique produced blocks that were dense with adequate anaesthesia for surgery in all patients within 12.5 min. The plasma local anaesthetic concentrations were well below the toxic range. Neonatal condition was good.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1991

Comparison of four subarachnoid solutions in a needle-through-needle technique for elective caesarean section.

We have used both spinal and extradural anaesthesia with a 26-gauge, long spinal needle through a 16-gauge Tuohy needle for elective Caesarean section. Four different subarachnoid solutions of bupivacaine were compared: 0.5% heavy bupivacaine alone, or with adrenaline, fentanyl or adrenaline and fentanyl. The incidence of complications and time of regression of the sensory block were analysed. The technique is recommended because it allows rapid onset of anaesthesia and the advantages of an extradural catheter. The subarachnoid solution of choice was 0.5% heavy bupivacaine 12.5 mg with fentanyl 10 micrograms.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Anaesthesia for emergency caesarean section.

The Report on Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths in England and Wales 1982-84 (Department of Health 1989) recommends early involvement of the anaesthetist in women having emergency caesarean sections and the use of epidural anaesthesia in preference to general anaesthesia. In an observational prospective study the need for emergency abdominal delivery could be anticipated in 87% of 360 consecutive emergency caesarean sections. Early establishment of epidural analgesia allowed extension, to an appropriate level for the surgery, in 70%. The duty anaesthetist accompanying the obstetric team on three wardrounds a day could be forewarned of anticipated problems in most women who are eventually delivered abdominally.

Anesthesia, Epidural↗
PubMed1988

Effect of adrenaline on extradural anaesthesia and plasma bupivacaine concentrations during caesarean section.

The effect of adrenaline on the efficacy of extradural block and plasma bupivacaine concentrations was investigated in women undergoing elective (n = 40) and emergency (n = 40) Caesarean section. Patients were randomly allocated within these two groups to receive 0.5% bupivacaine 20 ml either plain or with adrenaline 1 in 200,000, as a single fractionated extradural injection. The elective plain group needed significantly more supplementary analgesia compared with the other three groups (P less than 0.05). In the elective group, plasma bupivacaine concentrations were significantly lower in the subgroup receiving extradural adrenaline than in the plain subgroup. This effect was not observed when comparing only those who received bupivacaine 100 mg. In the emergency group, there were no significant differences in plasma bupivacaine concentrations between the plain and adrenaline subgroups. Maximum plasma concentrations correlated significantly (P less than 0.0001) with dose of bupivacaine (mg kg-1). It is concluded that extradural adrenaline does not usefully reduce systemic absorption of 0.5% bupivacaine, but may improve its efficacy in extradural anaesthesia for elective Caesarean section.

Adult↗