Biomaterial Database

Complications associated with regional anesthesia in the obstetric patient. 2002

Mark Zakowski

Department of Anesthesiology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA. zakowskim@cshs.org

The majority of obstetric patients are concerned about labor pains but also have fears regarding regional anesthesia and its potential effects on themselves and their babies. Anesthesiologists and obstetricians alike must be familiar with potential complications of obstetric regional anesthesia and analgesia, and also be able to provide the information and reassurance each patient needs. If a problem occurs during labor and delivery, it must be dealt with expertly and immediately. This article discusses the diagnostic clues, laboratory tests, and management of neurologic complications related to obstetric delivery and regional anesthesia, as well as the topics of infections, obstetric- and anesthetic-related neurologic deficits, and special tips on neurologic examination. The most common neurologic complication of spinal and epidural anesthesia, postdural puncture headache, will not be discussed in detail here.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009422	Nervous System Diseases	Diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system. This includes disorders of the brain, spinal cord, cranial nerves, peripheral nerves, nerve roots, autonomic nervous system, neuromuscular junction, and muscle.	Neurologic Disorders,Nervous System Disorders,Neurological Disorders,Disease, Nervous System,Diseases, Nervous System,Disorder, Nervous System,Disorder, Neurologic,Disorder, Neurological,Disorders, Nervous System,Disorders, Neurologic,Disorders, Neurological,Nervous System Disease,Nervous System Disorder,Neurologic Disorder,Neurological Disorder
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D005260	Female		Females
D006407	Hematoma, Epidural, Cranial	Accumulation of blood in the EPIDURAL SPACE between the SKULL and the DURA MATER, often as a result of bleeding from the MENINGEAL ARTERIES associated with a temporal or parietal bone fracture. Epidural hematoma tends to expand rapidly, compressing the dura and underlying brain. Clinical features may include HEADACHE; VOMITING; HEMIPARESIS; and impaired mental function.	Cranial Epidural Hematoma,Hemorrhage, Cranial Epidural,Epidural Hemorrhage, Cranial,Extradural Hematoma, Cranial,Extradural Hemorrhage, Cranial,Hematoma, Epidural, Intracranial,Intracranial Epidural Hematoma,Cranial Epidural Hematomas,Cranial Epidural Hemorrhage,Cranial Epidural Hemorrhages,Cranial Extradural Hematoma,Cranial Extradural Hematomas,Cranial Extradural Hemorrhage,Cranial Extradural Hemorrhages,Epidural Hematoma, Cranial,Epidural Hematoma, Intracranial,Epidural Hematomas, Cranial,Epidural Hematomas, Intracranial,Epidural Hemorrhages, Cranial,Extradural Hematomas, Cranial,Extradural Hemorrhages, Cranial,Hematoma, Cranial Epidural,Hematoma, Cranial Extradural,Hematoma, Intracranial Epidural,Hematomas, Cranial Epidural,Hematomas, Cranial Extradural,Hematomas, Intracranial Epidural,Hemorrhage, Cranial Extradural,Hemorrhages, Cranial Epidural,Hemorrhages, Cranial Extradural,Intracranial Epidural Hematomas
D006561	Herpes Simplex	A group of acute infections caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 or type 2 that is characterized by the development of one or more small fluid-filled vesicles with a raised erythematous base on the skin or mucous membrane. It occurs as a primary infection or recurs due to a reactivation of a latent infection. (Dorland, 27th ed.)	Herpes Simplex Virus Infection
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000765	Anesthesia, Conduction	Injection of an anesthetic to inhibit nerve transmission in a specific part of the body.	Anesthesia, Regional,Conduction Anesthesia,Regional Anesthesia
D000773	Anesthesia, Obstetrical	A variety of anesthetic methods such as EPIDURAL ANESTHESIA used to control the pain of childbirth.	Anesthesia, Gynecological,Anesthesia, Obstetric,Gynecologic Anesthesia,Paracervical Block,Anesthesia, Gynecologic,Block, Paracervical,Blocks, Paracervical,Gynecological Anesthesia,Obstetric Anesthesia,Obstetrical Anesthesia,Paracervical Blocks
D016920	Meningitis, Bacterial	Bacterial infections of the leptomeninges and subarachnoid space, frequently involving the cerebral cortex, cranial nerves, cerebral blood vessels, spinal cord, and nerve roots.	Bacterial Meningitis,Bacterial Meningitides,Meningitides, Bacterial
D020802	Epidural Abscess	Circumscribed collections of suppurative material occurring in the spinal or intracranial EPIDURAL SPACE. The majority of epidural abscesses occur in the spinal canal and are associated with OSTEOMYELITIS of a vertebral body; ANALGESIA, EPIDURAL; and other conditions. Clinical manifestations include local and radicular pain, weakness, sensory loss, URINARY INCONTINENCE, and FECAL INCONTINENCE. Cranial epidural abscesses are usually associated with OSTEOMYELITIS of a cranial bone, SINUSITIS, or OTITIS MEDIA. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p710 and pp1240-1; J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1998 Aug;65(2):209-12)	Abscess, Epidural,Abscess, Extradural,Spinal Epidural Abscess,Cranial Epidural Abscess,Cranial Extradural Abscess,Epidural Abscess, Intracranial,Epidural Abscess, Spinal,Intracranial Extradural Abscess,Spinal Extradural Abscess,Abscess, Cranial Epidural,Abscess, Cranial Extradural,Abscess, Intracranial Epidural,Abscess, Intracranial Extradural,Abscess, Spinal Epidural,Abscess, Spinal Extradural,Abscesses, Intracranial Extradural,Epidural Abscess, Cranial,Extradural Abscess,Extradural Abscess, Intracranial,Extradural Abscess, Spinal,Extradural Abscesses, Intracranial,Intracranial Epidural Abscess,Intracranial Extradural Abscesses