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Background and Goal of Study: Spinal anesthesia for cesarean section is frequently associated with a high incidence of hypotension, which may bring about untoward effects for both the mother and fetus. Recently, norepinephrine has emerged as a promising alternative in maintaining blood pressure in the obstetric setting. Fluid administration is another technique still widely used to prevent maternal hypotension. The optimal fluid strategy to prevent maternal hypotension has not been elucidated yet. It has been recently suggested that the main strategy in the prevention and management of hypotension should be the combination of vasoconstrictive medications and fluid administration. The aim of this randomized study was to compare the incidence of maternal hypotension in parturients receiving either colloid preload or crystalloid co-load in the setting of prophylactic norepinephrine infusion during elective cesarean section under combined spinal–epidural anesthesia. Materials and Methods: After ethics committee approval, 102 parturients with full-term singleton pregnancies were randomly allocated to either 6% hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4 5 mL/kg before the onset of spinal anesthesia (colloid preload group) or Ringer’s lactate solution 10 mL/kg concurrent with the subarachnoid injection (crystalloid co-load group). In both groups, norepinephrine 4 μg/min starting simultaneously with the administration of the subarachnoid solution was also administered. The primary outcome of the study was the incidence of maternal hypotension, defined as systolic arterial pressure (SAP) < 80% of baseline. The incidence of severe hypotension (SAP < 80 mmHg), total dose of vasoconstrictive agents administered, as well as the acid–base status and Apgar score of the neonate and any incidence of maternal side effects were also recorded. Results: Data analysis was performed on 100 parturients: 51 in the colloid preload group and 49 in the crystalloid co-load group. No significant differences were demonstrated between the colloid preload group and the crystalloid co-load group in the incidence of hypotension (13.7% vs. 16.3%, p = 0.933) or the incidence of severe hypotension (0% vs. 4%, p = 0.238). The median (range) ephedrine dose was 0 (0–15) mg in the colloid preload group and 0 (0–10) mg in the crystalloid co-load group (p = 0.807). The incidence of bradycardia, reactive hypertension, requirement for modification of vasopressor infusion, time to the first occurrence of hypotension, and maternal hemodynamics did not differ between the two groups. There were no significant differences in other maternal side effects or neonatal outcomes between groups. Conclusions: The incidence of hypotension with a norepinephrine preventive infusion is low and comparable with both colloid preload and crystalloid co-load. Both fluid-loading techniques are appropriate in women undergoing cesarean delivery. It appears that the optimal regimen for prevention of maternal hypotension is a combined strategy of a prophylactic vasopressor such as norepinephrine and fluids.

Aims: The decision on the appropriate type of anesthesia for pelvic floor repair depends on a variety of factors including patients' age, performance status, comorbidities, cost-effectiveness and personal preferences. We aim to review the literature on urogynecological procedures performed under local anesthesia (LA).Methods: A systematic search of four electronic databases was conducted for articles published up to May 2020. Studies reporting outcomes of women who underwent pelvic floor reconstructive surgery under LA with or without sedation, were considered eligible.Results: Nineteen studies (14 noncomparative and 5 comparative), including 1626 cases of urogynecological procedures under LA were recruited. Metaanalysis revealed significantly lower mean pain scores in LA group compared to general-regional anesthesia one (GA/RA) at both 4-6 h and 8-18 h postoperatively (160 patients; mean difference [MD], −1.70; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −3.12, −0.28; p = 0.02 and 160 patients; MD, −0.72; 95% CI: −1.17, 0.27; p = 0.002, respectively). Pain scores at >24 h did not differ among the two groups (160 patients; MD, −0.28; 95% CI: −0.60-0.05; p = 0.10). Intra-and postoperatively morphine use was not different among patients who received LA and GA during prolapse surgery while nausea rates were significantly lower in LA group compared to RA group 8 h postoperatively. Conclusions: LA with or without sedation represents a safe and efficient alternative anesthetic technique for urogynecological procedures with improved pain scores in up to 18 h postoperatively especially in patients who underwent surgery for SUI. LA is feasible and could be offered to patients undergoing pelvic floor surgery allowing a prompt postoperative recovery.

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare and life-threatening thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, severe thrombocytopenia, and organ ischemia linked to disseminated microvascular platelet rich-thrombi. TTP is specifically related to a severe deficiency of ADAMTS13, a cleaving protease for von Willebrand (vWF). TTP is occurring in between 1 and 13 cases per million people depending on geographic location, and 1 in 25,000 pregnancies. We present 40-yr-old parturient with TTP who underwent spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery at 37 weeks of gestation. Treatment for our case included acetylsalicylic acid, methylprednisolone and administration of fresh frozen plasma (FFP).We emphasize the importance of a multidisciplinary team approach to succeed the best outcome for this patient. Literature is discussed.