scholarly journals Considerations in the provision of teleconsultations for outpatient obstetric anaesthesia care during the Covid-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
pp. 201010582199117
Author(s):  
Leonard Wei Wen Loh ◽  
Yingke He ◽  
Hairil Rizal Abdullah ◽  
Kai Lee Ng ◽  
Un Sam Mok

Evidence has emerged that pregnant women who contract coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) are at increased risk of certain forms of severe illness as well as complications requiring intensive care unit admission and resultant mortality. Teleconsultations can facilitate continuing care for obstetric patients during the Covid-19 pandemic while reducing their risk of exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In this short report, we share our experience in the provision of teleconsultations for ambulatory obstetric anaesthesia patients in our high-risk obstetric anaesthesia clinic during the Covid-19 pandemic. Appropriate labour analgesia or anaesthesia plans were able to be formulated and communicated to the patients by teleconsultation, resulting in no delay or compromise in their peripartum care. Both patients and clinicians reported satisfaction with the teleconsultation process and outcome. The considerations and challenges in setting up a teleconsultation service as well as the factors in favour of teleconsultation are also explored.

Author(s):  
Rui Nie ◽  
Shao-shuai Wang ◽  
Qiong Yang ◽  
Cui-fang Fan ◽  
Yu-ling Liu ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTBACKGROUNDThere is little information about the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) during pregnancy. This study aimed to determine the clinical features and the maternal and neonatal outcomes of pregnant women with Covid-19.METHODSIn this retrospective analysis from five hospitals, we included pregnant women with Covid-19 from January 1 to February 20, 2020. The primary composite endpoints were admission to an intensive care unit (ICU), the use of mechanical ventilation, or death. Secondary endpoints included the clinical severity of Covid-19, neonatal mortality, admission to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and the incidence of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) of pregnant women and newborns.RESULTSThirty-three pregnant women with Covid-19 and 28 newborns were identified. One (3%) pregnant woman needed the use of mechanical ventilation. No pregnant women admitted to the ICU. There were no moralities among pregnant women or newborns. The percentages of pregnant women with mild, moderate, and severe symptoms were 13 (39.4%),19(57.6%), and 1(3%). One (3.6%) newborn developed ARDS and was admitted to the NICU. The rate of perinatal transmission of SARS-CoV-2 was 3.6%.CONCLUSIONSThis report suggests that pregnant women are not at increased risk for severe illness or mortality with Covid-19 compared with the general population. The SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy might not be associated with as adverse obstetrical and neonatal outcomes that are seen with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection during pregnancy. (Funded by the National Key Research and Development Program.)


Author(s):  
Tanja Artelt ◽  
Martin Kaase ◽  
Ivonne Bley ◽  
Helmut Eiffert ◽  
Alexander Mellmann ◽  
...  

Isolation precautions required for neonatal intensive care units are part of a bundle with the aim to prevent transmission, colonization, and infection with multidrug-resistant gram-negative pathogens as neonates face an increased risk of mortality and morbidity in case of infection. The following short report describes a transmission of 3MDRGN Klebsiella pneumoniae on a neonatal intensive care unit in a university hospital in Germany. This transmission occurred even though intensified infection control measures were in place, which impressively shows the importance of surveillance, outbreak management, and awareness of contributing factors regarding outbreak situations.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik Wahlstrom ◽  
Daniel Bruce ◽  
Anna M Bennet-Bark ◽  
Sten Walther ◽  
Hakan Hanberger ◽  
...  

Although the emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC) have shown increasing transmissibility, their role for causing severe disease has not been fully clarified. Here, we studied changes in rates of hospitalisation and severe illness (subjection to high-flow nasal oxygen or admission to an intensive care unit during hospital stay) among all (n=685 891) unvaccinated SARS-CoV-2 positive adults without risk factors in Sweden from November 2020 to September 2021. After adjustment for age, sex, and socio-economic factors, and with November 2020 (non-VOC period) as reference, the odds ratios (OR) for hospitalisation were 1.6-1.7 in March-May 2021 (Alpha VOC dominance) and 2.4-3.0 in June-September 2021 (Delta VOC dominance), and the ORs for severe illness were 1.8-2.1 in March-May 2021 and 3.1-4.7 in June-September 2021. This study shows that unvaccinated adults without risk factors, have had a gradually increased risk for hospital admission and severe illness when infected with the Alpha and Delta VOCs, respectively.


2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (11) ◽  
pp. 1808-1810 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan E. Reinders ◽  
Gabriel Wardi ◽  
Ricki Bettencourt ◽  
Daniel Bouland ◽  
Jessica Bazick ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 17-30
Author(s):  
K. V. Lobastov ◽  
O. Ya. Porembskay ◽  
I. V. Schastlivtsev

The article is a non-systematic review of the literature, addressing the effectiveness, safety and appropriateness of antithrombotic drugs for COVID-19 in patients undergoing treatment in different settings: in the hospital phase, including the intensive care unit, in the outpatient phase after discharge from hospital, in primary outpatient treatment. The issues of thrombotic complications during vaccination and the necessity of their prevention are discussed. The studies confirm the importance of prophylactic doses of anticoagulants in all hospitalized patients. The use of increased doses has proven ineffective in patients with a severe course of the disease who are being treated in the intensive care unit. In moderately severe infections, there is a clear benefit of increased doses of anticoagulants in reducing the risk of organ failure, but definitive conclusions can only be drawn after the final results of the studies have been published. Prolonged pharmacological prophylaxis after hospital discharge may be useful in individual patients, but the overall risk of thrombotic complications in the long-term period does not appear to be high. The available data do not support the use of anticoagulants in the treatment of coronavirus disease in the outpatient settings, since the risk of thrombotic complications is not increased in such patients, and the safety of anticoagulant use has not been evaluated. Sulodexide may be useful in selected outpatients at increased risk of disease progression. Vaccination may provoke the development of atypical localized thrombosis by immune mechanisms, but the risk of such complications is lower in the coronavirus disease itself. Anticoagulant prophylaxis during vaccine administration is not indicated.


2002 ◽  
Vol 23 (8) ◽  
pp. 441-446 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geir Bukholm ◽  
Tone Tannæs ◽  
Anne Britt Bye Kjelsberg ◽  
Nils Smith-Erichsen

Objective:To investigate an outbreak of multidrug-resistantPseudomonas aeruginosain an intensive care unit (ICU).Design:Epidemiologic investigation, environmental assessment, and ambidirectional cohort study.Setting:A secondary-care university hospital with a 10-bed ICU.Patients:All patients admitted to the ICU receiving ventilator treatment from December 1,1999, to September 1, 2000.Results:An outbreak in an ICU with multidrug-resistant isolates ofP. aeruginosabelonging to one amplified fragment-length polymorphism (AFLP)–defined genetic cluster was identified, characterized, and cleared. Molecular typing of bacterial isolates with AFLP made it possible to identify the outbreak and make rational decisions during the outbreak period. The outbreak included 19 patients during the study period. Infection with bacterial isolates belonging to the AFLP cluster was associated with reduced survival (odds ratio, 5.26; 95% confidence interval, 1.14 to 24.26). Enhanced barrier and hygiene precautions, cohorting of patients, and altered antibiotic policy were not sufficient to eliminate the outbreak. At the end of the study period (in July), there was a change in the outbreak pattern from long (December to June) to short Quly) incubation times before colonization and from primarily tracheal colonization (December to June) to primarily gastric or enteral Quly) colonization. In this period, the bacterium was also isolated from water taps.Conclusion:Complete elimination of the outbreak was achieved after weekly pasteurization of the water taps of the ICU and use of sterile water as a solvent in the gastric tubes.


2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (12) ◽  
pp. 1131-1137
Author(s):  
Annalisa Post ◽  
Geeta Swamy ◽  
Chad Grotegut ◽  
Amber Wood

Objective The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of noncephalic presentation on neonatal outcomes in preterm delivery. Study Design In this study a secondary analysis of the BEAM trial was performed. It included women with singleton, liveborn, and nonanomalous fetuses. Neonatal outcomes were compared in noncephalic versus cephalic presentation. Adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for each outcome with logistic regression while controlling for possible confounders. A stratified analysis by mode of delivery was also performed in this study. Results A total of 458 noncephalic deliveries were compared with 1,485 cephalic deliveries. In multivariate analysis, noncephalic presentation was associated with increased risk of death in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) or death at <15 months corrected gestational age (cGA), and a decreased risk of IVH. The risk of death persisted in stratified analysis, with increased risk of death at <15 months cGA in noncephalic neonates born via cesarean delivery. In the vaginal delivery group, there was an increased risk of death at <15 months cGA and NICU death. Conclusion After controlling for possible confounders, neonates who are noncephalic at delivery have higher risk for death <15 months cGA and death in the NICU while their risk of IVH is reduced. The risk of death persisted in stratified analyses by mode of delivery.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-2
Author(s):  
Panagiota Xanthouli

<b>Background:</b> Studies on the role of eosinophils in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are scarce, though available findings suggest a possible association with disease severity. Our study analyzes the relationship between eosinophils and COVID-19, with a focus on disease severity and patients with underlying chronic respiratory diseases. <b>Methods:</b> We performed a retrospective analysis of 3,018 subjects attended at two public hospitals in Madrid (Spain) with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection from January 31 to April 17, 2020. Patients with eosinophil counts less than 0.02 × 10<sup>9</sup>/L were considered to have eosinopenia. Individuals with chronic respiratory diseases (<i>n</i> = 384) were classified according to their particular underlying condition, i.e., asthma, chronic pulmonary obstructive disease, or obstructive sleep apnea. <b>Results:</b> Of the 3018 patients enrolled, 479 were excluded because of lack of information at the time of admission. Of 2539 subjects assessed, 1,396 patients presented an eosinophil count performed on admission, revealing eosinopenia in 376 cases (26.93%). Eosinopenia on admission was associated with a higher risk of intensive care unit (ICU) or respiratory intensive care unit (RICU) admission (OR:2.21; 95% CI:1.42–3.45; <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001) but no increased risk of mortality (<i>p</i> &#x3e; 0.05). <b>Conclusion:</b> Eosinopenia on admission conferred a higher risk of severe disease (requiring ICU/RICU care), but was not associated with increased mortality. In patients with chronic respiratory diseases who develop COVID-19, age seems to be the main risk factor for progression to severe disease or death.


2008 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 408-415 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li-Yin Chang ◽  
Kai-Wei Katherine Wang ◽  
Yann-Fen Chao

Background Unplanned extubation commonly occurs in intensive care units. Various physical restraints have been used to prevent patients from removing their endotracheal tubes. However, physical restraint not only does not consistently prevent injury but also may be a safety hazard to patients. Objectives To evaluate the effect of physical restraint on unplanned extubation in adult intensive care patients. Methods A total of 100 patients with unplanned extubations and 200 age-, sex-, and diagnosis-matched controls with no record of unplanned extubation were included in this case-control study. The 300 participants were selected from a population of 1455 patients receiving mechanical ventilation during a 21-month period in an adult intensive care unit at a medical center in Taiwan. Data were collected by reviewing medical records and incident reports of unplanned extubation. Results The incidence rate of unplanned extubation was 8.7%. Factors associated with increased risk for unplanned extubation included use of physical restraints (increased risk, 3.11 times), nosocomial infection (increased risk, 2.02 times), and a score of 9 or greater on the Glasgow Coma Scale on admission to the unit (increased risk, 1.98 times). Episodes of unplanned extubation also were associated with longer stays in the unit. Conclusions An impaired level of consciousness on admission to the intensive care unit and the presence of nosocomial infection intensify the risk for unplanned extubation, even when physical restraints are used. To minimize the risk of unplanned extubation, nurses must establish better standards for using restraints.


Author(s):  
Maeve K. Hopkins ◽  
Rebecca F. Hamm ◽  
Sindhu K. Srinivas ◽  
Lisa D. Levine

Objective Studies demonstrate shorter time to delivery with concurrent use of misoprostol and cervical Foley catheter. However, concurrent placement may not be feasible. If misoprostol is used to start an induction, little is known regarding the benefit of sequentially using Foley catheter. We examine obstetrical outcomes in women with Foley catheter placed after misoprostol compared with those only requiring misoprostol. Study design Retrospective cohort study of singleton pregnancies, intact membranes, and an unfavorable cervix (Bishop score of ≤6 and dilation ≤2 cm) undergoing term induction May 2013 to June 2015. We compared obstetrical outcomes between women receiving misoprostol alone versus those that had a Foley catheter placed after misoprostol. Outcomes are mode of delivery, time to delivery, chorioamnionitis, admission to neonatal intensive care unit, and maternal morbidity. Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were used for categorical variables, Mann–Whitney U-tests compared continuous variables. Results Among 364 women, 281 began induction with misoprostol alone. A total of 135 (48%) subsequently had a Foley catheter placed. Characteristics were similar between the groups, although nulliparity and cervical dilation <1 cm at start of induction were more likely to have subsequent Foley catheter. Women with Foley catheter placement after misoprostol had a longer median time to delivery (15 vs. 11 hours, p < 0.001), twofold higher rate of cesarean (42 vs. 26%, odds ratio: 2.1, 95% confidence interval: 1.26–3.44, p = 0.004), and increased risk of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission (21 vs. 11%, p = 0.024). There was a nonsignificant increased risk of chorioamnionitis (12 vs. 7%, p = 0.1) and maternal morbidity (15 vs. 8%, p = 0.08) in the misoprostol followed by Foley catheter group. Conclusion In women receiving misoprostol for induction, nulliparas and those with dilation <1 cm are more likely to have subsequent Foley catheter placement. Sequential use of cervical Foley catheter after misoprostol is associated with longer labor, higher cesarean rate, and increased NICU admission. Requirement of Foley catheter after misoprostol confers higher risk and may guide counseling. Key Points


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