Venous emboli occurring caesarean section: the effect of patient position. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • The effect of position, horizontal versus 5 degrees reverse Trendelenburg's, on the incidence of venous emboli during Caesarean section was evaluated in 207 patients. Venous emboli were diagnosed using precordial ultrasonic Doppler monitoring. In the horizontal position, 44% (60 of 134) parturients had venous emboli compared with 1% (1 of 73) parturients in the 5 degrees reverse Trendelenburg's position (P less than 0.0001). Epidural anaesthesia was performed in 171 patients, and 36 patients had general anaesthesia. In the epidural group, pulse oximetric haemoglobin oxygen desaturation and complaints of chest pain and/or dyspnoea were associated with the venous emboli. Venous emboli, probably air, occur frequently during Caesarean section with the patient in the horizontal position. This occurrence was minimized by placing the patient in the 5 degrees reverse Trendelenburg's position.

publication date

  • March 1, 1991

Research

keywords

  • Anesthesia, Epidural
  • Anesthesia, General
  • Anesthesia, Obstetrical
  • Cesarean Section
  • Embolism, Air
  • Posture
  • Veins

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 0025910980

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1007/BF03008143

PubMed ID

  • 2021988

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 38

issue

  • 2