Postpartum Uterine Pressures under Halothane or Enflurane Anesthesia

Four cases of the ex utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT) procedure: anesthetic implications

“…21 The uterine responsiveness to oxytocin, as investigated in patients after vaginal delivery, is however maintained up to 0.8 and 0.9 MAC for halothane and enflurane respectively. 22 In this study it was also shown that "with both agents there was a rapid recovery of spontaneous uterine activity when deep planes of anesthesia was lightened." The risk of increased blood loss from prolonged use of high doses of volatile anesthetics is obvious, but as our four patients clearly show, the depressed state of uterine contractility could be quickly reversed at the time of delivery without any signs of intra-or postoperative recurrence.…”

A prospective study of awareness and recall associated with general anaesthesia for caesarean section

“…The uterus responds well to oxytocic drugs despite the tocolytic effect of volatile anaesthetics at 0.75 MAC. 11 The decision to perform general anaesthesia at the obstetrician's request for placenta praevia is not supported by current guidelines. The UK National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guideline for Caesarean Section (2004) specifically recommends regional anaesthesia over general anaesthesia for cases of placenta praevia.…”

Comparative Maternal and Neonatal Effects of Halothane and Enflurane for Cesarean Section

“…Halothane 0.25% Halothane 0.5% Enflurane 0.5% Enflurane l'y, n = I6 n = 16 n = 18 n = 18 n;: I3 to produce a dose-related decrease in uterine contractability and tone (16)(17)(18)(19). However, findings from our study as well as other studies have failed to reveal any increased blood loss with the use of low dose halothane (6, 7), or enflurane 0.5-1.5y0 (12).…”