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Algorithm for the anesthetic management of cesarean delivery in patients with unsatisfactory labor epidural analgesia

Sonia Vaida1, Davide Cattano2, Debra Hurwitz1

  • 1Department of Anesthesiology, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennysylvania, 17033, USA.

F1000Research
|July 14, 2015
PubMed

The management of a patient presenting with unsatisfactory labor epidural analgesia poses a severe challenge for the anesthetist wanting to provide safe anesthetic care for a cesarean delivery. Early recognition of unsatisfactory labor analgesia allows for replacement of the epidural catheter. The decision to convert labor epidural analgesia to anesthesia for cesarean delivery is based on the urgency of the cesarean delivery, airway examination, and the existence of a residual sensory and motor block.  We suggest an algorithm which is implemented in our department, based on the urgency of the cesarean delivery.

Keywords:
Anesthesia for cesarean deliveryEpidural labor analgesiaUnsatisfactory labor epidural analgesia

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